Federal agents then set about untangling the web of corruption in Sweetwater.

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Miami-Dade County
DECEMBER 28, 2013
2013: A dirty year when it came to public corruption in Miami-Dade

It was the dirtiest of years when it came to public corruption in Miami-Dade County
BY MARC CAPUTO

Bag-men lobbyists paid off two allegedly corrupt mayors in an FBI sting. Another mayor was charged with working a clandestine consulting gig and misspending campaign money.

There were arrests for elections, tax and securities fraud. Crooked cops got busted. A city government acted like a crime racket.

And an elusive character in the investigation of a congressman who fled back and forth to Nicaragua.

From Homestead to Hialeah and beyond, 2013 was the year of Dirty Dade — an orgy of public-corruption news about indictments, informants, wiretaps and sleaze that confirmed some of the worst suspicions about some public servants who think the public should serve them.


Sleazy Sweetwater

Ground zero for Miami-Dade sleaze: Sweetwater.

A small city wedged in the northeast corner of Southwest Eighth Street and Florida’s Turnpike, Sweetwater’s claim to fame is that it was founded by Russian circus midgets 72 years ago.

But by the 1980s, Sweetwater gained a reputation as a corruption capital. Cops were investigated for beating up citizens. One officer went on a murder-robbery spree. And four city commissioners and the mayor were found guilty in a federal extortion scheme.

This year, Mayor Manny Maroño upheld the city’s sad tradition when he was indicted in an FBI grant-fraud sting.

Federal agents and the press then set about untangling the web of corruption in Sweetwater.


There’s a towing company, linked to Maroño, that financially preyed on some citizens and led to the questionable seizure of a Porsche Panamera.

Investigators are trying to track down missing police evidence — including cash — and have uncovered a secret evidence room that dirty cops might have used as a gift store for loved ones. Three officers are under investigation for police brutality and doctoring investigative records.

Even a police horse — a handsome black Percheron named Maverick bought by city taxpayers — made a corruption cameo. Maverick mysteriously ended up at the Homestead ranch of Richard Pichardo a former Sweetwater police lieutenant.

“It was a like a criminal enterprise,” Deborah Centeno, a twice-failed candidate for city commission, said.

Maroño’s mother, City Commissioner Isolina Maroño, showed off a mobster’s mouth when she threatened an El Nuevo Herald reporter who helped expose her son’s shenanigans.

“There’s a saying in Cuba,” Isolina Maroño said. “You either off the press or pay off the press.”

FBI stings

Sweetwater’s spate of bad press began in August when Maroño and Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi were both busted by the FBI, which had undercover agents pose as scummy Chicago businessmen with a phony company called Sunshine Universal.

In return for kickbacks, the mayors allegedly lied about Sunshine performing economic development work (it produced none) in a brief telephone survey. The mayors thought they were talking to a federal-grant administrator at AmeriCorps, but it was actually an undercover FBI agent.

“You answered questions knowing that you're f---ing lying, but you gotta be able to have that charisma, to be able to pull it off, to bulls--t,” Maroño, boasting of his intellectual prowess, told the undercover agents.

The mayors were identified by an informant, lobbyist Michael Kesti, who led the FBI to two lobbyists tied to the elected officials: Richard Candia and Jorge Forte.

The indictments portray Pizzi as the cagier of the two mayors. Insisting the deal was legitimate, Pizzi has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges tied to $6,750 of illicit payments.

Maroño took more cash with Forte, $60,000, and tried to recruit other mayors into the scam. Before pleading guilty in October, he unsuccessfully tried to convert his $300,000 city pension into a private retirement account.

“[Maroño]’s not gonna be shy, shy to ask for s--t,” Candia told an FBI agent in September 2011 during the scheme. “I mean, there will be no end.

[Unregistered]

Roly get a life !

[Unregistered]

If the FED's wanted to do something, they would have!

[WE THE PEOPLE]

Federal agents then set about untangling the web of corruption in Sweetwater.
Miami-Dade County
DECEMBER 28, 2013
2013: A dirty year when it came to public corruption in Miami-Dade

It was the dirtiest of years when it came to public corruption in Miami-Dade County
BY MARC CAPUTO

Bag-men lobbyists paid off two allegedly corrupt mayors in an FBI sting. Another mayor was charged with working a clandestine consulting gig and misspending campaign money.

There were arrests for elections, tax and securities fraud. Crooked cops got busted. A city government acted like a crime racket.

And an elusive character in the investigation of a congressman who fled back and forth to Nicaragua.

From Homestead to Hialeah and beyond, 2013 was the year of Dirty Dade — an orgy of public-corruption news about indictments, informants, wiretaps and sleaze that confirmed some of the worst suspicions about some public servants who think the public should serve them.


Sleazy Sweetwater

Ground zero for Miami-Dade sleaze: Sweetwater.

A small city wedged in the northeast corner of Southwest Eighth Street and Florida’s Turnpike, Sweetwater’s claim to fame is that it was founded by Russian circus midgets 72 years ago.

But by the 1980s, Sweetwater gained a reputation as a corruption capital. Cops were investigated for beating up citizens. One officer went on a murder-robbery spree. And four city commissioners and the mayor were found guilty in a federal extortion scheme.

This year, Mayor Manny Maroño upheld the city’s sad tradition when he was indicted in an FBI grant-fraud sting.

Federal agents and the press then set about untangling the web of corruption in Sweetwater.


There’s a towing company, linked to Maroño, that financially preyed on some citizens and led to the questionable seizure of a Porsche Panamera.

Investigators are trying to track down missing police evidence — including cash — and have uncovered a secret evidence room that dirty cops might have used as a gift store for loved ones. Three officers are under investigation for police brutality and doctoring investigative records.

Even a police horse — a handsome black Percheron named Maverick bought by city taxpayers — made a corruption cameo. Maverick mysteriously ended up at the Homestead ranch of Richard Pichardo a former Sweetwater police lieutenant.

“It was a like a criminal enterprise,” Deborah Centeno, a twice-failed candidate for city commission, said.

Maroño’s mother, City Commissioner Isolina Maroño, showed off a mobster’s mouth when she threatened an El Nuevo Herald reporter who helped expose her son’s shenanigans.

“There’s a saying in Cuba,” Isolina Maroño said. “You either off the press or pay off the press.”

FBI stings

Sweetwater’s spate of bad press began in August when Maroño and Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi were both busted by the FBI, which had undercover agents pose as scummy Chicago businessmen with a phony company called Sunshine Universal.

In return for kickbacks, the mayors allegedly lied about Sunshine performing economic development work (it produced none) in a brief telephone survey. The mayors thought they were talking to a federal-grant administrator at AmeriCorps, but it was actually an undercover FBI agent.

“You answered questions knowing that you're f---ing lying, but you gotta be able to have that charisma, to be able to pull it off, to bulls--t,” Maroño, boasting of his intellectual prowess, told the undercover agents.

The mayors were identified by an informant, lobbyist Michael Kesti, who led the FBI to two lobbyists tied to the elected officials: Richard Candia and Jorge Forte.

The indictments portray Pizzi as the cagier of the two mayors. Insisting the deal was legitimate, Pizzi has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges tied to $6,750 of illicit payments.

Maroño took more cash with Forte, $60,000, and tried to recruit other mayors into the scam. Before pleading guilty in October, he unsuccessfully tried to convert his $300,000 city pension into a private retirement account.

“[Maroño]’s not gonna be shy, shy to ask for s--t,” Candia told an FBI agent in September 2011 during the scheme. “I mean, there will be no end.

[Unregistered]

Special Commission Meeting August 26th, 2015 on YouTbe.
.Watch "Special Commission Meeting August 26th, 2015" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/WDZTeSq9AFA

[WE THE PEOPLE]

Orlando, Isolina & Ralph Ventura, You guys are not fooling anyone.
You guys are not fooling anyone
It is without a doubt that we all know that fired city attorney now Orlando suckass Ralph Ventura is behind a lot of the missing money. We will see what happens now that Peter is cooperating too. Robert Muriedas was always suspicious of Peter, but Peter isn't that stupiid. He knows what to say, when to say it, and when not to speak. The bureau pegged him right. But they also pegged Ralph Ventura and Manny right as well. Don't think for one minute Ralphie boy that your visits to Alabama have been unnoticed. It is ironic and utterly crazy to bring the media in and boast about ethical change when the first unethical conduct that is being promoted here is supporting the actions of the former convicted mayor. That is why "Gotti" is calling the shots from Alabama.

A real good check of financial records will reveal the hidden CDs of cash that were pocketed by the city attorney, Manny and Robert. Orlando dipped in too.

The street soldiers for the Southland crew were: Reny, Willie, Oliu, Miranda, Pichardo, Fuggy, Saavedra and Ochoa knew how to "count". The real count vs. the Manny-Fuggy count. By the way, the FBI is still looking for the Ranger that was bought with the tow money Ochoa. Where did you hide it??

[Unregistered]

Future arrests in the City of Sweetwater.
Based on the investigations beginning in 2013, there are rumors among city employees that authorities of the federal and state government will begin to arrest some of the ex-policemen of the City like ex-commander Mario Miranda, the ex-policeman and ex-commissioner Catalino Rodríguez, and the active lieutenant Roberto Ochoa,
as well the ex-chief of Police Roberto Fulgueiras.

[Unregistered]

Florida Supreme Court ratified that Gimenez negotiating with malicious intentions
The Supreme Court of Florida ratified that Mayor Gimenez negotiating in a bad faith with malicious intentions exceeding the powers of the Mayor.

MIAMI-DADE SEPTEMBER 9 2015.
MIAMI NEWS- DADE COUNTY.

The Supreme Court of the State of Florida ratified last Tuesday the decision of the Court of Appeals of the First District in favour of the Miami Dade County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) lawsuit against Mayor Carlos Giménez for overstepping the mark in his functions and exceeding the powers of the Mayor of Miami Dade County.

The demand or lawsuit took place when Giménez refused to return to the employees of the County 5 % of their benefits of health insurance and he veto the decision or agreement of the Commission of the County in order that the funds were returned.

After the voting of eight commissioners in favor to return and three against, the mayor Giménez could not impose his idea of not returning to the employees of the Miami Dade County a few concessions that, according to the unions, were done on condition of that they were reverted when the economic conditions were improving.

At that moment, Mayor Giménez threatened with dismissals or fired employees and of reduction of the police force because, according to the councillor, the voting of the commissioners was deepening the fiscal deficit. For this reason, Giménez veto the decision of the commissioners who, in turn, raised the above mentioned veto in an intense session in February, 2014.

The PBA (Police Benevolent Association of Miami-Dade) has been one of the organizations that has been faced in a radical way the Mayor Giménez. In the moment in which he veto the decision of the Miami Dade County Commission, the union decided to complain before the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) for his unjust practices against the employees.

" PERC decided that the mayor was negotiating in a bad faith with malicious intentions . Later, the case went to the Court of Appeals of the First District and this one passed that the mayor did not have the legal authority of veto the decisions of the commissioners in a hearing mediation. It was illegal and was exceeding the powers of the mayor ", affirmed Blanca Torrents Greenwood, executive director(principal) of the PBA.

[Unregistered]

Mayor Lopez you make a big mistake when you copy and paste Mayor Gimenez policy.
Mayor Lopez you make a big mistake when you copy and paste Mayor Gimenez.

Like Mayor Orlando López, Mayor Giménez threatened with dismissals or fired employees and of reduction of the police force, because according to the Mayor, the voting of the commissioners was deepening the fiscal deficit. For that reason, Mayor Giménez like Mayor Lopez veto the decision of the commissioners who, in turn, raised the above mentioned veto in an intense session in February, 2014.

The PBA (Police Benevolent Association of Miami-Dade) has been one of the organizations that has been faced in a radical way the Mayor Giménez. In the moment in which he veto the decision of the Miami Dade County Commission, the union decided to complain before the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) for his unjust practices against the employees.

" PERC decided that the mayor was negotiating in a bad faith with malicious intentions . Later, the case went to the Court of Appeals of the First District and this one passed that the mayor did not have the legal authority of veto the decisions of the commissioners in a hearing mediation. It was illegal and was exceeding the powers of the mayor ", affirmed Blanca Torrents Greenwood, executive director(principal) of the PBA

[Unregistered]

(RICO) Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
(RICO) Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly referred to as the RICO Act or simply RICO, is a United States federal law that provides for extended criminal penalties and a civil cause of action for acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

Racketeering is when organized groups run illegal businesses, known as “rackets,” or when an organized crime ring uses legitimate organizations to embezzle funds. Such activities can have devastating consequences for both public and private institutions.

Consequently, the federal government and numerous state governments have created systems of laws designed to prosecute these criminals.

Typical Rackets and Their Consequences

Using RICO to Prosecute Racketeers

Before Congress enacted laws that specifically combat organized crime, prosecutors found it very difficult to end these rackets. Prosecutors could often convict the lower ranked members of the organizations, because they were the ones who actually performed the illegal activities. However, the masterminds behind the organized crime rings were often much harder to prosecute because they couldn’t be directly connected to any of the crimes.

In 1978, Congress enacted the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, providing prosecutors with the tool they needed to fight organized crime. Many states have enacted similar laws. In order to convict someone under RICO or a state equivalent, it’s no longer necessary to prove the suspect personally committed an illegal activity. Instead, prosecutors must prove:
The defendant owns and/or manages an organization

[Unregistered]

CITY BUDGET OVERDRAWN DUE TO UNBUGETED CAMPAING PROMISED POSITIONS. BY MAYOR LOPEZ.

1-PLACIDO DIAZ- CHIEF POLICE DEPT.

2-THELMA LOPETEGUI-POLICE DEPT.

3-RICARDO ROQUE- POLICE DEPT.

4-RODOLFO HERBELLO- POLICE DEPT.

5-AQUILES CARMONA-POLICE DEPT.

6-RALPH VENTURA CHIEF OF STAFF, ADMINISTRATION.

7-CLAUDIA MIRO-PUBLIC INF. OFFICER.

8- INDIRA PARDILLO-EXC.ASST. TO MAYOR.

9-YAIMA VEGA- PERS. ASST TO MAYOR LOPEZ.

Unbugeted campaing promised positions, including the chief of police and his gang.
Force the city commissioners to ratify all unbugeted campaing promised positions, inc
It is not necessary to be very intelligent or political expert to realize that this is a political situation created with malicious intentions by Mayor Orlando López with the intention TO FORCE AND INTIMIDATEDTHE CITY COMMISSIONERS TO RATIFY ALL UNBUGETED CAMPAING PROMISED POSITIONS, INCLUDING THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND HIS GANG ND THE NEW MAYOR'S PRESS INFORMATION ASST.

If we go to the past records of The Miami Dade County will see that Mayor Gimenez try to apply the same type of intimidation and expression to the Miami Dade County Commissioners including threatened with dismissals or fired employees and of reduction of the police force, because according to the Mayor, the voting of the commissioners was deepening the fiscal deficit.

For that reason, Mayor Giménez like Mayor Lopez use the veto as a weapon to block or delay any decision of the commissioners creating a financial crisis.

Last week The Supreme Court of Florida ratified that Mayor Gimenez negotiating in a bad faith with malicious intentions exceeding the powers of the Mayor

[Unregistered]

Angry Donnie Brasco, you fired, you fired, you fired.
Seriously Orlando
Your fired, Your Fired, Your fired,

what was the deal with that circus last night orlando? You are embarrassing members of the community and the city with false accusations. You called for an emergency meeting without merit and without basis. You single out city employees and put words in their mouth. Originally the meeting was about the budget and you were not available, you left. This meeting was supposed to be about the budget and coming up with a solution to the budget. You show-boat former employees through city hall with your empty promises.You hire attorney J. Tabel, Esq. and you lost. and lost and lost and lost and lost and lost and lost again.

Once again I have to tell you that I observed rapid eye movement, uncontrollable blinking, flushed face, and the constant non sense coming out of your mouth. The lack of being able to make a sound decisions and bring a level of responsibility to government and the aggressive nature you have are all symptoms of addiction.

The city of sweetwater has an ordinance that will provide help for you. God loves everyone even the stupid, clumsy, addicted ones like you.

Please Orlando if you want to be clumsy, stupid, smelly, and an addict do it at your on time.

yours truly
Donnie Brasco