Former Florida Senator Frank Artiles arrested for a program of candidates for the division

His positions include:

• Make or receive contributions to the campaign above or above the limits

• Conspiracy to make or receive two or more campaign contributions above or above the limits

• False oaths related to voting or elections

According to an order obtained by Local 10 News, investigators say Artiles offered to pay Rodriguez $ 50,000 (half during the election and half after) for Rodriguez to enter the District 37 state senate race, where he shared his surname with the incumbent Democratic candidate José Javier Rodriguez.

Announcements

Republican rival Ileana Garcia ultimately defeated Jose Javier Rodriguez by just 32 votes for that seat. Plant candidate Alex Rodriguez, a heavily indebted machinery representative who actually lived two counties away from the district, garnered more than 6,000 votes despite not campaigning or having real political aspirations.

“Frank Artiles and his conspirators knew they couldn’t beat José Javier Rodriguez in a fair election, so they fixed it,” Alex Rodriguez’s lawyer, William Barzee, said in a statement. “Artiles cynically pointed and used a vulnerable ‘friend’ with a big name to run in the race to confuse voters and steal the election. Alex Rodriguez deeply regrets letting himself be used in this way and hopes that in coming out with the truth can help correct these mistakes ”.

Announcements

Local cameras for 10 News captured Artiles by appearing in jail along with his lawyer to surrender to authorities shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday.

The order shows the investigation began Nov. 11, a day after a Local 10 news outline outlined evidence that some state Senate candidates in the November election were dark-funded plants.

Alex Rodriguez, 55, told investigators that Artiles, 47, contacted him on May 15, 2020 via Facebook Messenger. They had known each other for over twenty years, but they had not spoken for a year.

Rodriguez lived in Boca Raton, far from Miami-Dade District 37, but still had a home in Palmetto Bay. According to the order, the two met at Artiles’ house, Palmetto Bay, that afternoon where Artiles outlined the scheme for Rodriguez to enter the race to confuse voters and siphon the votes of the Democratic candidate.

Announcements

The warranty shows the text message communications between the two.

At a subsequent in-person meeting, investigators alleged that Artiles instructed Rodriguez how to fill out a form needed for the candidacy, which included Rodriguez using his Palmetto Bay address even though they both knew he didn’t really live there. .

The author also describes multiple cases of money Artiles has paid Rodriguez, including receipts.

In all, investigators found that Artiles paid $ 44,708.03 to Rodriguez “to change his party affiliation, qualify as an independent candidate for the Senate’s Seat 37 and try [siphon] votes of the current candidate “.

It is not illegal to plan a simulated candidate, but to fund it.

A press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., when Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami City Police Chief Ron Papier and members of the Miami-Dade Police Department public corruption working group of the state prosecutor’s office will discuss the case.

Announcements