A WFLA, News Channel 8, investigation of diploma mills broadcast in April detailed Bordonaro's attempt to collect extra pay under a state program that rewards police and firefighters who pursue higher education.

But the sheriff's office, in its investigation of Bordonaro, found that the Florida statute that made it a criminal offense to claim a degree from an unaccredited college had been ruled unconstitutional.

Hillsborough prosecutor Pam Bondi said the state attorney's office will try to contact five defendants prosecuted in Hillsborough County under the diploma mill statute since 1995 and advise them they might have reason to appeal.

Bordonaro has been a Hillsborough sheriff's deputy since 1985 and now works as an undercover detective in the Special Operations Bureau. He specializes in high-tech crimes and child pornography cases.

Records show he applied for ``supplemental compensation'' in February 1998, weeks after receiving his bachelor of science diploma from Columbia State University, which offered degrees in 27 days. It was founded by Ronald Pellar, a hypnotist.

Bordonaro offered his supervisors a copy of his diploma and a transcript listing eight courses ranging from The Constitution to Political Power as documentation for his degree. In a sworn statement April 24 to internal investigators, Bordonaro said he studied hard for his degree ``for a good year.''

He never received the bonus pay because clerks at the sheriff's office could not get the school to verify his graduation.

Retired federal agent Allen Ezell, who ran the FBI's Operation Diploma Scam from 1980 to 1991, says there's a good reason Columbia State University never confirmed Bordonaro's college work.

``They did not offer courses, period. It's that simple. They weren't set up to do that,'' Ezell said.

In April, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles indicted Pellar on nine counts of mail fraud in connection with his operation of Columbia State University.

Federal agents had no trouble finding Pellar because he was in federal prison for an unrelated fraud scheme.

Meanwhile, Hillsborough prosecutors say they were unaware of the federal ruling overturning Florida's statute until contacted by the sheriff's office. ``We think there are a few simple words that need to be changed in this statute to make it comply with the federal case,'' Bondi said.

The prosecutor said Hillsborough prosecutors won't pursue any criminal cases under the diploma mill law unless state lawmakers fix the statute's wording.

Col. Jose Docobo of the sheriff's office said Bordonaro will suffer nothing more than embarrassment for his bad judgment. ``He's a recognized expert in his field, aside from this, but he should have known better.''

Mark Douglas' story on Detective Anthony Bordonaro will air at 11 p.m. today on WFLA, News Channel 8. Douglas can be reached at (727) 709-2753.