Veldora Arthur, a $184,336-a-year Miami assistant fire chief, is facing federal criminal charges for her alleged involvement in a $10 million mortgage fraud scam. Arthur, along with two other people, was recruited by a man named Neil Fagan to act as straw buyers who purchased six separate units in an Aventura condo building located at 3370 NE 190th St., according to the indictment, first reported by local blog, The Straw Buyer. We've emailed Fire Chief Maurice Kemp for comment and to ask him if Arthur has been suspended or relieved of duty.
We have not been able to reach Arthur, who was not in her office when we called earlier this morning. A secretary would not comment as to why Arthur was not at work, where she oversees the coordination of all capital projects and payroll.
With all the bad news swirling around Miami city hall, from a recent audit that exposed how millions of dollars in public works funds have been misused to the ongoing federal probe to determine if city leaders misled bond buyers, Arthur's bust only reaffirms the Magic City as a banana republic.
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