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2001 Releases
12:12:01 - Grand Jury Releases Report on Miami-Dade's Public
Transportation's Future
11/28/01 -Conviction of Former WASD Administrative Chief 11/19/01 - Fugitive European Sex Offender on his way to France 10/12/01 - Statement by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle on the Death of Nicholas Singleton 09/27/01 - SAO Employees Help Victims of Terrorist Attack 09/25/01 - Eddie Lee Talley Found Guilty of Defrauding Union 09/07/01 - 11 Miami Police Officers Indicted by Federal Government 08/29/01 - State Charges Officer Carlos Fuster with a Number of Sexually Related Charges 08/16/01 - SAO Convicts Former Miami-Dade Police Officer of Drug Trafficking 08/15/01 - DERM Inspector Charged with Bribery 08/14/01 - Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office Awarded VOCA Grant for Fifth Straight Year 08/06/01 - Mr. Joseph Carollo Receives Standard Disposition for First-Time Offenders 08/03/01 - Former Assistant Aviation Director at Miami International Airport Indicted 07/17/01 - Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office (MDSAO) Leads State in the Incarceration of Career Criminals 07/10/01 - Richard Joranby, Former Public Defender for Palm Beach County Charged 03/22/01 - Eller Media Verdict 03/20/01 - Former Restaurant Inspector Charged 02/13/01 - Arrest In Hialeah Automobile Crash 02/06/01 - State Correctional Officer Charged 01/30/01 - Allegations of Irregularities or Fraud in Local Signature Petition Drives 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 12/12//01 Spring Term 2001 Grand Jury Releases Comprehensive Report on Miami-Dade's Public Transportation's Future "Our investigation of this topic has convinced us that our community stands today at a transportation crossroad," the Grand Jury wrote Miami (December 12, 2001) - Choosing an issue of great impact and importance to the future of the community, the Spring Term 2001 Grand Jury today released a comprehensive report on Miami-Dade's transportation problems as well as a number of recommendations. "After more that six months studying this problem, we find ourselves much wiser in many ways," the Grand Jury wrote. "Along the way we have had to jettison a number of preconceived notions we had about the reasons for our traffic congestion." The Grand Jury wrote that having begun their term seeking solutions to congestion from automobiles, they ended the term having determined that the only true solution lies within the ability of the community to provide mass transit as a reasonable alternative to the automobile. "Without solutions in place, the future congestion our community faces will have dire consequences upon our quality of life." Among the findings:
According to the Grand Jury report efforts to seek federal funding may already be too late since the next cycle of federal funds is scheduled to be determined in 2003 and as a community, if we want to have any opportunity to compete for those federal funds, a local dedicated funding source must be in place no later than the end of 2002. "There is currently no concerted effort anywhere within our community to seek public approval for a solution to this dilemma," the Grand Jury wrote. "This situation must change and change rapidly." The Grand Jury wrote that any solution would need voter approval and felt that it was in this arena that the most work needed to be done. The Grand Jury was optimistic that voters will approve a viable solution to the transportation woes facing Miami-Dade so long as they understand what they are voting for and what the true alternatives are that they will face if they choose to vote no. However, they cautioned, "under no circumstances should any portion of this funding be used for anything other than transportation." The Grand Jury made a number of recommendations on how to improve our transportation problems if voters are well informed and approve a local dedicated funding source that can match federal dollars. Among them, on the short term, purchasing a substantial number of buses to enhance our existing Metrorail system and provide a better incentive to automobile commuting. On the long term, the Grand Jury suggests expansion of the Metrorail to Miami International Airport that would substantially increase those who would use that system. In addition, the Grand Jury reports that there is a clear need for a "non-political czar" of transportation to tie all the current competing interests and agencies in a more cohesive fashion. "It is of paramount importance that our transportation planning and implementation be separated from individual politics," the Grand Jury wrote. "It is an unfortunate side effect of our current district system of elections that, while achieving greatly desirable effects on the increased diversity of our elected officials, it too often lends itself to a political vision that is similarly limited only to that particular district." Copies of the Grand Jury report can be obtained on the Internet's Office of the State Attorney's website at http:/www.miamisao.com interested in an interview with State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle can call Ed Griffith at 305-547-0535. ###  Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 11/28/01 SAO Convicts Former was Administrative Chief on Theft and Official Misconduct Charges Defendant and her goddaughter ran an employee "no show" job Miami (November 28, 2001) - A Miami-Dade jury delivered a guilty verdict in the trial of a former supervisor of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) and her goddaughter, Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced today. Barbara Dent, the former chief of administrative compliance at WASD was accused of masterminding a fraudulent "no show" employee scam that benefited her goddaughter, Tamara Taylor. "The defendant disgraced herself and her department by operating a flagrant public corruption scheme that, though ordinary and petty, undermines our government institutions," Fernandez Rundle, said. An investigation conducted by the Miami-Dade Police Department Public Corruption Unit and the Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General (IG), revealed how the scheme worked. Dent used her secretary Linda Banfield to fill out timecards indicating that her goddaughter was working for the County when in fact during part of the time she was living and going to school in Tennessee. Investigators were also able to prove that Dent pressured her employees to lie in order to keep the lid on the IG investigation. "This was the first criminal case filed by the IG with the State Attorney's Office and we hope that it sends a message to public officials and government employees that defrauding the public will not be tolerated," Christopher Mazzella, Miami-Dade County inspector general, said. "It is this kind of criminal activity that corrodes the public's confidence in their government." Handwriting analysis of the time cards allegedly signed by Tamara Taylor showed that the signature was phony. Linda Banfield, already convicted of fraud and official misconduct for her part in the scheme, testified that she signed timesheets at Barbara Dent's direction. The jury did not buy Taylor's claim that she had worked at the County during the summer of 1995. Neither did they buy Dent's allegation that she was only the victim of a conspiracy fashioned by a vindictive former boyfriend of her goddaughter's mother. The boyfriend also worked with Dent at WASD as an inspector. Dent was convicted of 13 felony counts of Official Misconduct, 12 felony counts of Grand Theft, one count of misdemeanor Petty Theft and one count of Organized Fraud. Her goddaughter, Tamara Taylor was convicted of ten felony counts of Grand Theft, one count of felony-organized fraud and one count of misdemeanor petty theft. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 11/19/01 Fugitive European Sex Offender on His Way to France Arce-Montes wanted in France for 1996 murder of English schoolgirl Miami (November 19, 2001) - In a move orchestrated by the State Attorney with the cooperation of the U.S. Attorney, Francisco Arce-Montes, wanted in Europe on a number of sexual assaults and a homicide was released from state custody today and immediately placed under federal detention and extradited to France. "We hope that today's action can bring justice and closure to a homicide committed by Mr. Arce-Montes in France," Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, said. "Our case will remain open pending the completion of judicial proceedings against Mr. Arce-Montes in Europe." In a Monday morning hearing, state prosecutors asked Circuit Court Judge David Young to release Arce-Montes on his own recognizance. The legal strategy allowed Arce-Montes to be immediately placed into federal custody so he could be turned over to French authorities at Miami International Airport. Arce-Montes literally went from one set of handcuffs to another. An assistant U.S. attorney and two federal marshals were in the courtroom to escort him to Miami International Airport where French authorities took charge of him for the flight to Paris. Arce-Montes was arrested on March 13 of this year after Miami Beach police caught him breaking into a youth hostel where police reports say that he tore the undergarments of a visiting woman and masturbated in her presence. He broke into the room of a second woman before being arrested by police. In court this morning, state prosecutors offered Arce-Montes another opportunity to plead guilty to his Florida charges, but he refused. "The victims in the Miami Beach case are willing to forego a trial here and speed Mr. Arce-Montes' return to France and be tried on the rape and homicide pending against him," Fernandez Rundle said. "We appreciate and thank the victims for their cooperation and for their desire to see justice quickly served." Judge David Young ruled that he will keep the Florida case open and has asked prosecutors to provide him with an update in June of 2002. That is the date when the Florida trial was scheduled to start. If Arce-Montes returns to stand trial on two state counts of Burglary and one count of Lewd and Lascivious Behavior and is found guilty, he may be sentenced to maximum of 30 years in a state penitentiary The DNA evidence obtained as a part of the Miami Beach case confirmed Arce-Montes is the indicted suspect in the 1996 murder of 13-year-old Caroline Dickinson. The English schoolgirl had been strangled and raped in a youth hostel in the Brittany area of France while on a school trip. European law enforcement says Arce-Montes is also wanted in connection with a series of sexual assaults that targeted 13 and 14-year-old girls. Before moving to have Arce-Montes returned to French authorities, State prosecutors reviewed unsolved criminal cases through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to make sure that Arce-Montes had not committed any additional crimes in Miami-Dade or anywhere else in the United States. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 10/12/01 Statement by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle on the Shooting Death of Nicholas Singleton Miami (October 12, 2001) - "Today, I have decided to release a close-out memorandum on the events surrounding the shooting death of Nicholas Singleton. Nicholas Singleton was involved in a police-related shooting that occurred on April 30, 2001. This comprehensive memorandum will provide all the members of the public with a straightforward and accessible examination of all of the information uncovered during the investigation of this tragic incident. Based on the laws of the State of Florida, as explicitly discussed in this report, the shooting of Nicholas Singleton does not meet the standards necessary to merit the filing of criminal charges. As a result, we will not be charging any of the police officers involved in Nicholas Singleton's death." Copies of the close out memorandum will be available through the Office of the State Attorney during working hours. Copies can also be obtained through the Office of the State Attorney web site (www.state.fl.us/sa11). Click here to view Close-Out Memorandum  (5mb) ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 09/27/01 SAO Employees Contribute to and Support the Victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon Tragedy Miami (September 27, 2001) - The Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney will dispatch a team of investigators to New York to support the rescue and recovery underway in lower Manhattan, Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced today. "We offered our assistance right after the tragic terrorist attack on September 11th and we have been on standby waiting for the word to go," Fernandez Rundle said. "Our investigators are ready to do whatever is necessary to support the law enforcement effort underway by New York Police and federal agencies." The team will be composed of four investigators and will depart Miami-Dade County on September 28th and is expected to be in New York for one week. The team will be traveling to New York with officers from other local departments who are joining this effort. While SAO investigators gear up for their New York assignment, SAO employees are doing their part through fund raisers. Working closely with the Miami-Dade Firefighters, SAO employees open their hearts and their wallets to the victims of the disaster by fundraising more than $6,000 in less than two days. Firefighters sold t-shirts, polo shirts and hats in the lobby of the Graham Building to SAO employees who displayed their support by immediately wearing their purchase. On Friday, September 14th SAO employees gathered in the lobby of the Graham building and held a brief memorial service to remember all those who died in the tragic attacks in New York and Washington D.C. "Just like millions of other Americans across our nation, SAO employees felt the pain of the disaster and wanted to do their part to express solidarity with those who tragically lost their lives," Fernandez Rundle said. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 09/25/01 SAO & Office of the Inspector General Investigation Leads to Former Transit Union President Pleading Guilty Eddie Lee Talley found guilty of defrauding union Miami (September 25, 2001) - An investigation by the Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General which led to the filing of criminal charges by the State Attorney's Office ended today with Eddie Lee Talley, President of the Transit Workers Union Local 291 pleading guilty to fraud charges, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Inspector General Christopher Mazzella announced. While union president, Talley used his union-issued credit cards to obtain cash advances to pay personal and gambling debts. He then used union funds to pay off the credit card charges. Circuit Court Judge Jerald Bagley found Talley guilty and sentenced him to 10 years probation. By pleading guilty, Talley agreed to resign both his county and union positions, never again work for any public government or union in any capacity, pay restitution to Local 291 of $49,000.00, pay investigative costs of $36,000.00 and successfully complete a gambler's anonymous program. "Mr. Talley stole from those who trusted him. Instead of caring for union members," Katherine Fernandez Rundle said, "he squandered the union's resources and placed Local 291 in financial jeopardy." In April 2001, the local chapter was found to be in financial trouble and placed in financial receivership. Mr. Talley was removed from his union post and arrested in July. Inspector General Christopher Mazzella stated he was pleased with the investigative partnership by the two agencies on this case. "With Mr. Talley's removal and conviction, it is my hope that the financial problems at the local union are rectified and the membership's trust is restored." ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 09/07/01 11 Miami Police Officers Indicted by Federal Government Repercussions of Coconut Grove Shooting Investigation and Prosecution Continues to Yield Benefits Miami (September 7, 2001) - The U.S. Attorney's Office's filing of a variety of Conspiracy, Obstruction of Justice and Perjury charges against 11 Miami Police Officers is another significant step forward in removing bad police officers from the streets of this community, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced today "Since the crack in the blue wall of silence first appeared as a result of the Coconut Grove gun throw-down case, we, and the US Attorney's Office and the FBI, have been able to gather more information on police abuses committed by a handful of rogue officers. By providing the federal authorities with leads and investigative information, we have proudly assisted them in making these cases. Both state and federal law enforcement agencies will continue this effort to develop further cases. My veteran Chief Assistant State Attorney, Trudy Novicki, who tried the River Cop Cases has been cross-designated to try the case in Federal Court." In the Coconut Grove shooting case, one officer was convicted of Official Misconduct, three officers are still facing charges of Perjury, and Theft of a Gun from a Crime Scene and one officer was acquitted. In the course of the investigation and prosecution of this case, the identity of the police officers involved in a series of controversial police shootings became known to prosecutors as well as the methodology of how they covered their crimes. Such information has proven invaluable to state and federal prosecutors as they work to develop additional prosecutable cases. While these indictments do not answer the concerns presently focused on the issue of police shootings, they do help insure that the information necessary to honestly and thoroughly investigate police shootings are not covered up. State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle and Chief Assistant State Attorney Trudy Novicki will be available for interviews. Please call Ed Griffith at 305-547-0535. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/29/01 State Charges Officer Carlos Fuster with a Number of Sexually Related Charges Offenses committed while on duty Miami (August 29, 2001) - The State Attorneys Office has charged Miami-Dade Police officer Carlos Fuster with a number of offenses stemming from sexual related crimes committed while on duty, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced today. The ten-year veteran of the force is facing one count of Armed Sexual Battery, one count of Attempted Armed Sexual Battery, one count of Sexual Battery, two counts of Kidnapping, one count of Extortion, and two counts of Unlawful Compensation. The Miami-Dade Police department conducted the investigation that led to the charges. "Mr. Fuster disgraced the uniform by using its authority for his own sexual gratification," Fernandez Rundle said. "When police officers put on the badge, our community expects trustworthiness, reliability and professionalism. Mr. Fuster did not exhibit any of these qualities and leveraged his position to force his victims to submit to sexual acts. Betrayal is too weak a word to describe how his actions erode the confidence of the public and blemish the positive reputation of the Miami-Dade Police department as well as law enforcement everywhere. The credit belongs to Miami-Dade Police and their Director Carlos Alvarez who ensured that this case was thoroughly investigated to insure an effective prosecution." The offenses committed by Fuster took place between 1999 and 2000 and involved more than one individual. Some of the incidents followed a pattern, where the officer answered a complaint, such as two men fighting in public and, instead of writing an incident report or making an arrest, Fuster would take the men into custody, drive them out to a secluded area and force them to perform sexual acts on him. Sometimes more than one man was in the car, but Fuster would walk them out independently so they could not see what occurred. On at least one occasion, Fuster collared the same individual twice and forced him into sexual acts, according to the investigation. One of the complaining victims, who at first refused to perform was threatened at gunpoint and told that if he didn't, he would "be fed to the alligators." Another victim refused to perform oral sex and was hit on the side of the head with a flashlight and told, "do you think you're better than your friend, he did it." The case that brought the investigation to a conclusion involved a South Dade young man who after falling asleep in the drive-through lane of a fast food restaurant was taken into custody, driven to a secluded area and violated. Evidence found in Fuster's police vehicle corroborated the incident. Fuster worked as a patrol officer on the midnight shift at the Doral district station since May 1991. He had been assigned to desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation. State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle will be available for interviews. Please call Ed Griffith at 305-547-0535. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/16/01 SAO Convicts Former Miami-Dade Police Officer of Drug Trafficking Reynaldo Garcia pleads guilty to cocaine charges Miami (August 16, 2001) - Former Miami-Dade Police officer Reynaldo Garcia today pled guilty to armed cocaine trafficking, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and attempted trafficking in cocaine and received a ten year prison sentence, announced State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle. The conviction of Garcia followed a three-year investigation by Miami-Dade Police Department and the State Attorney's Office into allegations that a police officer was using the uniform and badge to rip off drug dealers. "The Miami-Dade Police, like our office, will not stand for law enforcement individuals who betray their duty to this community," Fernandez Rundle said. "Garcia besmirched the good work that our police men and women accomplish everyday." In 1998, the Miami-Dade Police Department received information that Garcia and another police officer were stealing cocaine from drug dealers. The department arranged a sting operation where an undercover officer posed as a drug dealer. Garcia, who had worked for Miami-Dade Police for ten years and by this time had been retired two weeks from the department, involved another officer in the drug rip-off. They confronted the "drug dealer" (undercover officer), stole the cocaine and let the undercover officer go without an arrest for drug possession. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/15/01 DERM Inspector Charged with Bribery Miami (August 15, 2001) - The Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney (SAO) and the Miami-Dade Police Department arrested Luis Castro, an inspector with the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), and charged him with bribery and unlawful compensation after he solicited a $200 payment from a merchant to pass an environmental inspection. Miami-Dade Police recorded Mr. Castro accepting $200 in marked funds, after which he was immediately arrested. State Attorney Rundle stated, " In our community, we must attack every kind of public corruption. It doesn't matter whether it involves a nickel, two hundred dollars ($200) or two thousand dollars ($2,000). We can not, and will not tolerate anyone who tries to use his official position for personal profit." ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/14/01 Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office Awarded VOCA Grant for Fifth Straight Year Grant's continuance is recognition of effective work on behalf of crime victims. Miami (August 14, 2001) - For the fifth straight year, the Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney (SAO) has won a State of Florida Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant, State Attorney Kathy Fernandez Rundle announced today. "This grant is in recognition of your commitment to serve the needs of Florida's innocent crime victims," Robert A. Butterworth, attorney general of the State of Florida, said. "The SAO's effort to provide assistance to Florida's victims of crime are appreciated." "We're grateful for the continued support from the state," Fernandez Rundle, said. "Our commitment is not only to prosecute those who break the law, but also to care and comfort the victims of crime. This grant will allow us to continue providing services to those in need." This year's grant of $110,754 will fund the SAO Special Needs & Domestic Assistance Response Team (S-DART), which employs four domestic violence counselors who assist victims within 72 hours after a felony or juvenile arrest and provide an array of services to them. S-DART counselors are specifically trained to assess the victim's immediate requirements (i.e. food, shelter and children's needs) and perform a "danger assessment" to determine the victim's risk for further violence. S-DART counselors also provide the victim with guidance and assistance throughout the course of the criminal case and act as the victim's liaison to the prosecuting assistant state attorney. Although this program focuses on just felony and juvenile domestic cases, in one year (2000), the SAO had more than 9,000 felony and misdemeanor domestic violence cases in the criminal, county and juvenile courts. The S-DART counselors managed the most serious of those cases. "The primary reason this program is to save lives. Through S-DART we have provided support and assistance to more than 4800 victims in the last year," Denise Moon, director of Victims' Services for the Office of the State Attorney. "S-DART intervention with the victims of domestic violence and special needs clients makes it easier for them to cope with their terrible experience." Media outlets interested in doing a follow up article or electronic report regarding the S-DART program, please contact Ed Griffith at 305-547-0535. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/06/01 Completion of Counseling Leads to Dropping of Charges Mr. Joseph Carollo receives standard disposition for first-time offenders Miami (August 6, 2001) - The Office of the State Attorney (SAO) today dropped the misdemeanor battery charge (case number M01-6692) filed against Mr. Joseph Carollo. This is the standard disposition of first-time offenders charged with misdemeanor battery. Miami Police arrested and charged Mr. Carollo on February 7, 2001 after officers answered an early morning call to his home in Coconut Grove. The arrest of Mr. Carollo stemmed from an argument he had with his wife prior to the arrival of the police. SAO prosecutors held several meetings with Mr. Carollo's attorneys and concluded that since Mr. Carollo was a first time offender, the charges could be dropped if Mr. Carollo completed a family counseling program. A nolle prosse (i.e. the dropping of charges), as a result of successful completion of these remedial programs, is the preferred and customary method of dealing with first time offenders charged with similar offenses. Successful completion of a counseling program allows the offender not to have a criminal record while providing rehabilitation to the behavior which led to police intervention and/or the filing of charges. On March 21, 2001, Mr. Carollo began one on one counseling under the supervision of Dr. Simon Miranda a clinical psychologist practicing in Miami-Dade County. In the past he has worked on other cases handled by the SAO. The sessions were also evaluated and approved by Dr. Raquel Bild-Libbin a clinical psychologist retained by the SAO to monitor Mr. Carollo's counseling. Dr. Bild-Libbin has also worked on other cases with the SAO. The SAO prosecutors spoke with Mrs. (Mari) Carollo in a pre-trial conference in the first week of August and she is in complete agreement with the resolution of the case. In her prior statement released to the media, Mrs. Carollo stated that "under no circumstances did my husband intend to harm or injure me." ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 08/03/01 SAO and Miami-Dade Police Investigation Lead to Federal Indictment of Former Assistant Aviation Director at Miami International Airport Ricardo Mendez and Wife Indicted by Federal Grand Jury Miami (August 3, 2001) - A corruption investigation initiated by the Office of the State Attorney and the Miami-Dade Police Department into procurement contracts at the Miami-Dade Aviation Department has led to a federal grand jury indictment of former Assistant Aviation Director Ricardo Mendez and his wife Mirta Mendez for mail fraud, bribery, money laundering, tax evasion and filing false tax returns. "This indictment today should remind our community that while public corruption investigations take time to effectively pursue and prosecute, our state, local and federal authorities will vigorously continue their combined efforts," Fernandez Rundle said. "It's never a good day when law enforcement officials stand before our community to declare that we are indicting someone for violating the public trust - the result is that it erodes public confidence in its leaders, but my office is not backing away from investigating any official or administrator that betrays their office." The investigation began more than three years ago in 1998 and was transferred nine months later to federal prosecutors after State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis, and Miami-Dade County Police Director Carlos Alvarez mutually determined that the most effective prosecution of the case could be obtained under federal tax laws. The resulting federal indictment of Mr. and Mrs. Mendez demonstrate how these joint law enforcement partnerships can enhance resources and be an effective vehicle in bringing to justice individuals who abuse the public trust for their own personal profit or that of their associates. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 07/17/01 Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office (MDSAO) Leads State in the Incarceration of Career Criminals Miami (July 17, 2001) - Florida Department of Corrections statistics indicate that for fiscal year 2000 - 2001, the Miami-Dade County Office of the State Attorney (MDSAO) leads all other Florida state attorney offices in the incarceration of career criminals. Career criminals are offenders who, based on their prior record of criminal convictions, meet a specific criteria established by Florida Statutes. This is the eighth straight year the MDSAO has achieved a high level of success in prosecuting repeat criminal offenders. Since July 1, 1993 more than 4400 career criminals have been sent to state prison as a result of successful prosecutions in the courts of Miami-Dade County. "While we strive to offer offenders different correction programs and other services so they won't choose a life of crime, we aggressively pursue those who have decided to prey on our community as a full time endeavor," Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade County State Attorney, said. "Career criminals, for the most part, account for a majority of the crime in any community so we work very hard to get them off our streets. Our success rate is due in part to the effectiveness of the various police departments we work with and their professionalism in gathering evidence that we consequently can use to prosecute these dangerous felons." When compared to other urban counties around the state, Miami-Dade County still led the state in the number of career criminal prosecutions. The statistics show that in FY 2000 - 2001, Miami-Dade sent 627 career criminals to prison. The next closest county was Broward with 445, followed by Duval with 210, Hillsborough 147 and Orange 139. While the statistics of career criminal prosecutions will always skew towards populous urban counties, the consistency of successful prosecutions is inherent to each SAO. The Department of Corrections Habitual Offender, Violent Habitual and Career Criminal Admissions report is produced on a monthly basis. Representatives interested in receiving a copy of FY 2000-2001, please contact the SAO at (305) 547-0535. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 07/10/01 Richard Jorandby, Former Public Defender for Palm Beach County Charged Miami (July 10, 2001) - The Office of the State Attorney and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE ) announce the charging of Richard Jorandby, former Public Defender for Palm Beach County, Gary Herter and Jerry Justine with a series of criminal violations which occurred during Mr. Jorandby's 2000 re-election campaign. The broad scope of offenses range from bribery to a variety of election law violations. This criminal investigation was initiated on October 30, 2000, when Governor Jeb Bush signed an executive order appointing both the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office and FDLE to conduct an investigation into possible misconduct by Richard Jorandby in connection with his official duties as Public Defender for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. At the time of the offenses, Richard Jorandby was the Public Defender for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit (Palm Beach County), Gary Herter was an administrator with the Public Defender's Office and Jerry Justine was the supervisor of investigations for the Public Defender's Office. All three individuals have turned themselves in to FDLE agents in West Palm Beach this morning. The specific charges against each defendant are: RICHARD JORANDBY
Regarding this case, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle stated that, "Our election laws were designed to keep the running of a public agency separate from the running for public office. The defendants in this case flagrantly violated that separation. The investigation conducted by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement indicated that the actions undertaken by these individuals were not accidental oversights but were criminal violations of the Florida Statutes." ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 03/22/01 Eller Media Verdict Miami (March 22, 2001) - In light of the recent verdict in the case of the State of Florida v. Eller Media (F99-12275a) and State of Florida v. Victor Garcia (F99-12275c), Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle issues the following statement: "The fact that the jury took 12 hours to come to their decision verified the fact that this was a very legitimate criminal prosecution. Although we are disappointed with the final verdict, we recognized that this was a difficult case from the very beginning. The law says that anyone, individually or corporately, handling dangerous products, such as electricity or toxic substances has a responsibility to protect the public. People in these positions must take every step to protect the public. Otherwise, if someone is killed handling their dangerous products, these same individuals or corporations will face potential criminal prosecution. Hopefully, a positive result of this case will be the saving of a life in the future." ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 03/20/01 Former Restaurant Inspector Charged Miami (March 20, 2001) - In a joint investigation, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office and the Office of the Inspector General of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants announce the filing of criminal charges against Reinaldo Frayle, a former restaurant inspector for the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. In the course of his daily responsibilities as a restaurant inspector in Miami-Dade County, Reinaldo Frayle would inflate the payment owed to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation by a restaurant owner. He would then give the restaurant owner a receipt showing the amount that had been charged or paid. Later, Mr. Frayle altered the payment shown on the receipt turned into the Department to a lower amount and kept the difference. State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle stated, "The case of Reinaldo Frayle, is an example of how the State Attorney's Office and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation worked together to clean house in the agency by investigating and charging an aberrant government worker who tried to use his official position for personal profit. Such conduct is repugnant." Mr. Frayle is being charged with:
### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 02/13/01 Arrest in Hialeah Automobile Crash Miami (February 13, 2001) - Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and the Hialeah Police Department announce the charging of Yileymi Suarez age 27, in connection with the January 7, 2001 automobile crash which resulted in the deaths of Giovanna Marie Martinez, age 17 and Janice Bello, age 16. Yileymi Suarez surrendered at 11:00 AM to Officer Samuelson, of the Hialeah Police Department. Ms. Suarez is being charged with 2 counts of Vehicular Homicide, a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and 1 count of Driving While License Suspended, a misdemeanor of the first degree punishable by up to 364 days in jail. ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 02/06/01 Arrest of a State Department of Corrections Officer Miami (February 6, 2001) - Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announces that the Office of the State Attorney, the Executive Investigative Unit of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Inspector General's Office of the State Department of Corrections have arrested Kelvin L. Cooper, a State Department of Corrections Officer at the Everglades Correctional Institution. Officer Cooper was videotaped taking money to bring drugs into the correctional institution. Officer Cooper is charged with 1 count of Unlawful Compensation, a third degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. According to State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, "The arrest of Officer Cooper is another example of how the law enforcement partnership of the State Attorney's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Department of Corrections work to hold accountable any law enforcement personnel who try to use their positions of trust as a means of personal enrichment. I know that every law enforcement professional finds such conduct repugnant. I will not tolerate such actions and neither will any member of our law enforcement community." ### Contact: Ed Griffith 305-547-0535 01/30/01 Allegations of Fraud in Local Signature Petition Drives Miami (January 30, 2001) - Regarding allegations of irregularities or fraud in local signature petition drives, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle issues the following statement: "Allegations of irregularities or potential fraud cast a shadow on an electoral process that has been damaged by illegality in our recent past. The Office of the State Attorney is committed to maintaining the integrity of our elections, just as we have done in the past and just as we will do in the future. We will review the materials supplied to us and, if there is evidence of criminal conduct, we will vigorously pursue the matter." ### |
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