Alex Diaz de la Portilla is suspended after arrest on public corruption charges

Alex Diaz de la Portilla is suspended after arrest on public corruption charges

That was fast. It took just about 24 hours for Gov. Ron DeSantis to suspend Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, after his arrest this week on charges of money laundering, bribery, criminal conspiracy and other public corruption and campaign finance violations. In contrast, it took three weeks for DeSantis to suspend former Miami-Dade […]

Head agent at Miami FDLE office retires suddenly — but nobody has said why

Head agent at Miami FDLE office retires suddenly — but nobody has said why

The head of the Miami Regional Operations Center of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement “retired” abruptly Thursday. A group of agents were called to a mandatory meeting Thursday morning and told that Special Agent in Charge Troy Walker had retired “effective immediately.” Walker, the first African-American to be named chief SAC at the Miami […]

Joe Martinez suspended hours before final budget hearing; no replacement

Joe Martinez suspended hours before final budget hearing; no replacement

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finally suspended Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez Tuesday, three whole weeks after he was arrested on public corruption charges for allegedly taking $15,000 in exchange for sponsoring legislation that would benefit the owners of a shopping center and grocery store. Martinez, who attended the first budget hearing and voted against it, did […]

State attorney: Joe Martinez broke our trust for $15,000, help with bank loan

State attorney: Joe Martinez broke our trust for $15,000, help with bank loan

Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez spent five hours in jail Tuesday after he was charged with unlawful compensation for having sponsored legislation to change county code restrictions in exchange for $15,000. Legislation is going cheap these days! Martinez told reporters as he left that he could not talk about the arrest yet, but would speak — […]

Joe Martinez claims public corruption charge is really a political hatchet job

Joe Martinez claims public corruption charge is really a political hatchet job

Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez, who is scheduled to surrender himself Tuesday to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office on a public corruption charge, is the victim of a political attack, says his lawyer in a pair of statements that question the timing. After a five-year investigation, criminal charges will be filed against Martinez Tuesday, Miami-Dade State […]

Sources: Joe Martinez will turn himself in on Tuesday after 5-year investigation

Sources: Joe Martinez will turn himself in on Tuesday after 5-year investigation

Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez — who everyone knows wants to run for county sheriff in 2024 — is said to be turning himself in to authorities Tuesday after a five-year public corruption investigation. Several sources who confirmed this to Ladra did not know who Martinez would surrender to, although the logical answer is the State […]