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2000 Releases
11/21/00 - Sentencing of Carmen Lunetta
09/07/00 - Operation "Fail Safe" Nets Arrests of School Employees for Thefts Related to Bogus Night Classes 08/24/00 - Manuel Diaz and Guillermo Cutie (Director of Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation) Charged with Grand Theft - Additional Information 08/09/00 - Indictment of "John Doe" Gang Leader Corey Smith for Murder 07/17/00 - MPD Major Juan Garcia Charged with Solicitation to Commit Prostitution 06/20/00 - SAO Bad Check Restitution Program Reaches $1 Million Mark 03/02/00 - State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, pleased by Crime Statistics for 1999 03/02/00 - Operation Riverside Clean Sweep-Gang Strike Force 01/24/00 - Mother Arrested for Keeping Children out of School 01/19/00 - Grand Jury Completes Probe of Government Contracting ED GRIFFITH Public Information Officer PHONE: 305-547-0535TERRY CHAVEZ Hispanic Media Relations Public Information Officer PHONE: 305-547-0535 If you cannot view PDF's, click on Acrobat Reader or the image below to download the free software.  |
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Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 11/21/0 Sentencing of Carmen Lunetta Miami (November 21, 2000) - The Office of the State Attorney and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announce that former Director of the Port of Miami, Carmen Lunetta pled no contest this morning to 4 counts of Making Political Contributions In The Name Of Another Person and 1 count of Excessive Campaign Contributions to a Candidate. Each violation, a first degree misdemeanor, carried the potential penalty of 364 days in the Miami-Dade County jail. As the result of the a no contest plea made to Judge Wendall Graham, Carmen Lunetta was adjudicated guilty of the charges, sentenced to serve 6 months of house arrest, and assessed a $5,000 fine ($1,000 for each of the five charges) to be made payable to the United Way of Miami-Dade County and ordered to pay $8,496.70 in reimbursement for investigative costs of the case. This sentence was ordered over the objections of Assistant State Attorney Joe Centorino, who argued that a jail sanction was most appropriate. The charges in this case stem from a course of conduct by Carmen Lunetta where he arranged for Fiscal Operations, a private company operating out of the Port of Miami to reimburse individuals for political contributions they had made to political candidates of Mr. Lunetta's choosing. No direct evidence was found to show that the candidates receiving the contributions were aware of the involved campaign improprieties. According to State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, "We asked for jail because while Carmen Lunetta was found not guilty in Federal Court for the theft of public monies, it is my judgment in this case, that he committed a flagrant breach of the public trust. Those who break the law and act on a belief that government is a way to obtain personal power hinder the progress of this community. I will not tolerate such actions and neither will any member of our law enforcement community." ###  Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 09/07/00 Operation "Fail Safe" Nets Arrests of School Employees for Thefts Related to Bogus Night Classes Miami (September 7, 2000) - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Miami-Dade County School Police Chief, Pete Cuccaro announce that five (5) arrest warrants have been issued today in connection with a joint investigation by The State Attorney's Office and the Miami-Dade County School Police Department that originated as a result of complaints about potential "grade changing" for student athletes. However, the investigation, which began in late 1999, actually uncovered evidence of bogus night school courses taught by athletic coaches to illegally supplement their teaching incomes. The charges filed today come after a lengthy investigation that uncovered a scheme whereby these defendants established "night school" courses at the high school in order to supplement their incomes. These courses were stocked with ghost students who rarely, and in most situations never, attended classes. The coaches frequently were not in attendance themselves. Despite the fact that few if any students ever attended a single class session, the defendants submitted false attendance records in order to receive payment for teaching the courses. Many of the ghost students in these classes received A's for the courses. The defendants where subsequently paid by the School District in the amounts indicated below, despite the fact that no class had ever, in fact, been taught. The payments to defendants reflect a theft of public money in excess of $20,000. Warrants today were issued for the following employees of the Miami-Dade County School System:
 - Head football coach, teacher - S.W. Sr. High Currently coaching & teaching at Booker T. Washington Sr. High SCOTT BENJAMIN CRUMPLER -Assistant football coach, teacher - S.W. Sr. High Currently coaching & teaching at Booker T. Washington Sr. High GODWAL VIERA -Assistant football coach, teacher - S.W. Sr. High Currently coaching & teaching at Booker T. Washington Sr. High PHILLIP MICHAEL FOX - Assistant football coach, teacher - S.W. Sr. High Currently Head Coach at S.W. Sr. High NOEL FIGUEROA - Assistant football & head baseball coach, teacher - S.W. Sr. High The State Attorney offers her special thanks to School Superintendent Roger C. Cuevas for his leadership and support of this investigation as well as to Sgt. Robert Ascencio, and lead detective, Andrew Snoke of the Miami-Dade County School Police Department for their efforts in investigating and uncovering this scheme. In addition, the State Attorney also congratulates Assistant State Attorney, Mark Smith, who worked together with the School Police on this investigation. Finally, the State Attorney expresses gratitude to the citizens and school parents who came forward with the initial information that made this investigation possible. "Without the participation of the residents of this community, law enforcement would be very limited in its ability to ferret out these 'secret' crimes. It will take the continued participation of courageous people like those who came forward in this case, if we are to continue winning the battle to make our schools and our community a better place." The arrests announced today do not bring this investigation to a close. Anyone with information about similar incidents should contact the Miami-Dade County School Police Department or the State Attorney's Office. Copies of the arrest warrant affidavits will be available at the State Attorney's Office web site. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/24/00 Manuel Diaz and Guillermo Cutie (Director of Miami-Dade Parks & Recreation) Charged with Grand Theft - Additional Information Miami (August 24, 2000) - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle together with Director Carlos Alvarez of the Miami-Dade Police Department, announce that Manuel C. Diaz, and Guillermo Cutie will be surrendering before Circuit Court Judge Robert Scola at 9:30 AM this morning on felony charges related to an investigation into allegations of undelivered trees at Crandon Gardens. After Hurricane Andrew the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department began the restoration of the county parks. One of those parks, Crandon Gardens on Key Biscayne, was heavily damaged by the wind and the tidal surge from the hurricane. The clean up and restoration began in the spring of 1993. The restoration and planting continued until 1996. It was during the reconciliation of FEMA invoices in 1996 that a problem with the inventory was discovered. An audit was conducted in November of 1998. It was discovered that over 2,000 trees, which had been invoiced and paid for, were unaccounted for. The total value of those trees was approximately one million dollars. Investigators from the Miami-Dade Police Department Public Corruption Investigations Bureau, along with the State Attorney's Office have, over the past year, interviewed numerous persons, taken sworn testimony and reviewed thousands of documents. The investigation revealed that Manuel C. Diaz, President of Manuel Diaz Farms, had been invoicing the county for trees that were not received. Guillermo Cutie, the Director of the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department, had authorized payment on the invoices for the non-existent trees. Today we are announcing the surrender, in open court, of: Manuel C. Diaz, 55 years old, who is the President of Manuel Diaz Farms Incorporated, on one count of Grand Theft First Degree. This charge is a first degree felony with a maximum penalty of 30 years in state prison
Guillermo Cutie, 48 years old, who was the Director of the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department, had been previously charged criminally in this matter. Today's superseding information reflects an amendment of those charges which now include Mr. Cutie in the theft of the public funds. The amended charges against Mr. Cutie include one count of Grand Theft first degree, along with two counts of Official Misconduct. The Grand Theft charge carries a 30 year maximum penalty and the Official Misconduct charges each carry a 5 year maximum penalty. Click here for the Charging Document in Adobe Acrobat Format ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/09/00 Indictment of "John Doe" Gang Leader Corey Smith for Murder Miami (August 9, 2000) - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announces that there will be a press conference at 3:00 PM today in Room S418 of the State Attorney's Office at 1350 NW 12 Avenue. The purpose of the press conference is to announce the indictment of "john Doe" gang leader Corey Smith in connection with the 1997 murder of a key witness in a murder case. State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Chief Raul Martinez of the City of Miami Police Department as well as representatives of the investigative team will be in attendance and available for comment at this event. Click here to view the Indictment ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 07/17/00 MPD Major Juan Garcia Charged with Solicitation to Commit Prostitution Miami (July 17, 2000) - Due to the large number of media inquiries, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle issues the following statement: "My office has recently concluded its investigation, and review of the evidence regarding allegations that MPD Major Juan Garcia solicited an undercover police officer for sex on June 24th, 2000. That investigation resulted in the filing, earlier today, of an information charging Major Garcia with a single count of solicitation to commit prostitution, a second degree misdemeanor. Consistent with the manner in which similar cases are handled, a notice will be issued to the defendant, and/or his counsel, to appear for arraignment on Thursday, July 20, in Miami-Dade County Court." A copy of the charging document can be obtained by contacting the State Attorney's Office. The same document will also be available on the State Attorney's Office Web Page on Monday, July 17, 2000. Click here for Charging Document in Adobe Acrobat Format ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 06/20/00 SAO Bad Check Restitution Program Reaches $1 Million Mark Miami (June 20, 2000) - There will be a press event at the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office at 10:30 AM this morning, June 21, 2000, in room S418. The event will be held to announce that the State Attorney's Office Bad Check Restitution Program has reached the $1 million milestone in restitution recovered for victims of bad check writers. State Attorney Rundle will also present a restitution check to AA Uniforms, the company the received the $1 millionth dollar recovered by this program. The success of this program is the result of a unique public/private partnership, the first of its kind in the State of Florida, and one of the first in the nation. The program has a joint focus on recovering restitution for victims and preventing repeat instances of bad check writing. Most importantly this initiative is run at no cost to the taxpayer and without any deductions from the amounts of restitution recovered for the bad check victims. Additionally, this partnership has permitted the use of resources and personnel within the State Attorney's Office to initiate an arrest sweep of defendants who have written bad checks in large numbers or large dollar amounts who have been fugitives from the criminal justice system. Phillip Blumberg, from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, as well as representatives of American Corrective Counseling Services (ACCS), and AA Uniforms, the recipients of the $1 millionth dollar recovered, will be available for comment at this event, in addition to Ms. Rundle. Press packets with materials that describe the State Attorney's Office Bad Check Restitution Program, how merchants and the general public can access the program, statistical materials, and face sheets regarding the recent sweep of bad check defendants will be available. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 03/02/00 State Attorney, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, pleased by Crime Statistics for 1999 Miami (March 2, 2000) - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle releases the following statement in response to the FDLE's release earlier today, of its Uniform Crime Statistics report for 1999. "I am extremely pleased that the crime statistics for 1999 which were released earlier by FDLE once again confirm the continued downward trend for the crime rate in Florida. I am particularly pleased that the same trend is also mirrored here in Miami-Dade County. These decreases, 10.8% statewide and 9.37% in Miami-Dade, have not resulted solely from aggressive efforts by police agencies. Those efforts have been complimented by the effective efforts by my own office to prosecute and convict violent and career criminals. I have dedicated myself and this office to that effort and, as a result, we have led the state for six (6) consecutive years in sending career criminals to prison." HABITUAL OFFENDER
"In 1993, FDLE reported a total of 253, 874 crimes were committed in this community. The statistics released today reflect a 33% reduction from that total over the last six (6) years. Our local focus on the arrest and conviction of those one-man crime waves, the professional career criminal, has played a key role in achieving that dramatic decline. We are pleased to know that our efforts have contributed to that success and that our streets are safer today as a result." ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 03/02/00 Operation Riverside Clean Sweep-Gang Strike Force Miami (March 2, 2000) - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announces that she will hold a press conference today, March 2, 2000, at 10:00 AM. At the press conference, which will be held in room S-418 of the State Attorney's Office located at 1350 S.W. 12th Avenue in Miami, Florida, Ms. Rundle will announce the conclusion of the State Attorney's Office Gang Strike Force's "Operation Riverside Clean Sweep". At the conference State Attorney Rundle, City of Miami Police Chief William O'Brien and the Gang Strike Force investigators will provide details about the year long operation as well as the arrest of over 20 gang members. The gang members taken down in this operation will face a variety of charges including RICO, RICO Conspiracy, Att. Murder, Armed Robbery, and Armed Narcotics Trafficking charges as a result of this comprehensive investigation that has resulted in the eradication of all gang presence from the Riverside Park and the surrounding neighborhood. 
Click here for High-Resolution Image ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 01/24/00 Mother Arrested for Keeping Children out of School Miami (January 24, 2000) - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announces today the arrest of Mindy Pearl Viera (DOB 7/31/53) by investigators from the State Attorneys Office on the following charges:
This arrest stems from the defendant's willful failure to comply with state laws that mandate parental responsibility for their children's school attendance. This arrest also follows extensive intervention activities by State Attorney's Office/ Miami-Dade County Public Schools through the Truancy Intervention Program (TIP) in an effort to get Mindy Pearl Viera's children to regularly attend school. According to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, "It is absolutely essential for our children's success in life that they receive the education to which they are entitled. We are mindful that many parents may need assistance in meeting their parental and statutory responsibilities. TIP has proved to be a tremendous success in providing that help to families. My office, however, will provide accountability for those parents who deliberately fail to ensure that their children receive the fundamental education they so desperately need in order to avoid embarking on a path toward a life of delinquency and crime." TIP focuses on the parent's responsibility to get children to school and to keep them in school particularly since truancy is the most important indicator for future delinquent or criminal behavior. The TIP partnership brings the authority of the prosecutor's office into the effort to enforce Florida's mandatory school attendance laws. At the same time, TIP aims to address the family needs or provide social services to assist families and alleviate the problems at home that may be the root causes of the truancy problem. This is the first arrest of a parent for deliberately keeping her children out of school after TIP intervention since the original pilot program was established in 1994. Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Dr. Henry C. Fraind will be available for comment by contacting them at the above listed numbers. Copies of the press release and arrest affidavit in this case can be obtained online at the State Attorney's Office Web Page, www.state.fl.us/sa11/. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 01/19/00 Grand Jury Completes Probe of Government Contracting Miami (January 19, 2000) - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announces that there will be a press conference held at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse, 73 W. Flagler Street, courtroom 4-2, at 11:00 AM this morning, to publish the Final Report of the 1999 Spring Term Grand Jury. The report, a continuation of the work started by the predecessor Grand Jury for the Fall term of 1998, is the culmination of an exhaustive investigation into corruption, malfeasance, and mismanagement of governmental contracting and procurement within Miami-Dade County. The current Grand Jury agreed to continue and complete the work started by the previous Grand Jury when it became apparent that the material uncovered by the first Grand Jury revealed that the investigation was too large to complete in a single Grand Jury term. Today's press conference will complete the approximately one year long look into problems within the process of government contracts. To see a summary of the State Attorney's proposed Legislative changes click here. ### |
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