Charges Filed Against Miami City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla for Bribery and Money Laundering

MIAMI — Miami City Commissioner Alejandro “Alex” Diaz de la Portilla has been arrested on charges of money laundering and bribery, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The charges stem from his alleged acceptance of campaign contributions without disclosing them. Diaz de la Portilla, 58, is facing multiple criminal charges, including money laundering, bribery, criminal conspiracy, and official misconduct.

The arrest of Diaz de la Portilla came after an investigation by the FDLE, which found evidence that he and attorney William W. Riley Jr. accepted over $15,000 in payments for Diaz de la Portilla’s brother’s judicial campaign but failed to report them as required by Florida law. Riley Jr. is also facing charges related to money laundering, bribery, and failure to disclose lobbyist expenses. Both men were booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Detention Center after their arrest.

The FDLE statement revealed that Riley Jr. controlled a bank account in the name of a Delaware-based corporation, which was allegedly used to launder $245,000 in concealed political contributions. These contributions were made by a management services company in exchange for permission to build a sports complex in Miami. The investigation also uncovered that Diaz de la Portilla operated and controlled two political committees, which were used not only to support his brother’s campaign but also for personal expenditures. One committee reported total donations of approximately $2.3 million, while the other reported total donations of more than $800,000.

The investigation was initially assigned to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office but was later reassigned to the Broward State Attorney’s Office to avoid any conflicts of interest. The arrest of Diaz de la Portilla and Riley Jr. has drawn attention to the alleged abuse of public trust by an elected official. Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust Executive Director Jose Arrojo stated, “It is always sad and regrettable when an elected official is criminally charged with abusing the public’s trust, but the community should find some solace in the fact that today’s arrest will shine a bright light on the alleged criminal conduct.”

Diaz de la Portilla, upon leaving the detention center, claimed that the charges against him were politically motivated. He stated that the prosecutor, a Democrat from Broward County, was targeting him as a Republican commissioner from Miami. However, the FDLE’s investigation and subsequent arrest were based on evidence of potential criminal violations, rather than political motivations.

The arrest of a city commissioner on charges of money laundering and bribery has sent shockwaves through the local community. Diaz de la Portilla’s lawyer issued a statement asserting his client’s innocence and denouncing the charges as an abuse of the legal system. The statement claimed that the arrest was timed to disrupt Diaz de la Portilla’s campaign and harm his family. The lawyer further alleged that the charges were part of a political scheme orchestrated by the Broward State Attorney’s Office to remove an effective Republican lawmaker from office.

Diaz de la Portilla and Riley Jr. are expected to appear in court for a first appearance hearing on September 15. As the case unfolds, the community and the public will be watching closely to see how justice is served and whether the alleged abuse of public trust will be addressed appropriately.

Original Story at www.cbsnews.com – 2023-09-15 10:00:00