Yesterday, Luis Felipe Perez, a Hialeah jeweler who federal prosecutors say swindled $40 million from victims who invested in his Ponzi scheme, agreed to plead guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He will have to pay up to $1 million…
A year ago we chronicled the life of Rene Martinez, a Miami Cuban American who went from gang-banging hell-raiser to a humble God-fearing MMA warrior. Since that cover story, Martinez, known by his street name “Level,” has won his first three matches as a professional and starred in a five-hour…
Nancy Simon: Miami Lakes taxpayers foot councilwoman’s legal bill
On a day when he wasn’t trying to figure out which one of his Coconut Grove houses he lives in, Miami city Commissioner Marc Sarnoff decided to show his adoration for the Miami Heat’s billionaire owner. During the Miami community redevelopment agency’s public hearing yesterday, the city commission was considering…
UPDATE: Miami Lakes Town Attorney Mitchell Bierman, a partner with the law firm Weiss, Serota et al. informs Banana Republican that Florida law allows elected officials to seek reimbursement for legal expenses incurred fighting ethics charges that are eventually dismissed. He also provided us with town legislation that allows Miami…
For Marc Sarnoff, three houses are home
Wilfredo FerrerUnited States Attorney, Southern District of Florida99 NE Fourth St., Miami, FL 33132Dear Mr. Ferrer,Banana Republican commends you for cracking down on the scoundrels responsible for the rampant mortgage fraud plaguing South Florida. With that in mind, we want to bring a related case to your immediate attention. We…
The Miami Herald reports this morning that the North Miami Beach City Council fired City Manager Kelvin Baker last night. Although no specifics were given, Banana Republican wonders if his termination had anything to do with Baker accusing some city council members of violating the state’s Sunshine Law.This past August 31,…
Nitin Motwani is one of those multi-millionaire Miami guys you may have never heard of, but he has the kind of suction at Miami city hall that allows him to do whatever he wants. As principal of the Falcone Group, Motwani owns several properties in the Park West neighborhood of…
Five years ago, on January 12, Miami-Dade police plain clothes detectives Daniel Fernandez and Joe Losada were arrested by internal affairs officers for allegedly planting evidence, falsifying an arrest affidavit, stealing money, and physically threatening a drug dealer. The pair didn’t know that Pedro Soler and his friend Rafael Rodriguez…
Recall Marc Sarnoff
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff cited for violating city code
Call 305-441-5966 and you will reach Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff’s private law office, located at 3000 Shipping Ave., a two-story residence right next door to the property he calls home.Since before he was elected commissioner in 2006, Sarnoff has remained steadfast that his business address is absolutely legal and that…
Pobrecito Julito. Hialeah’s mayor can’t catch a break these days. He is battling the city unions over pensions and the city budget. He is dodging questions about his business relationship with $40 million Ponzi schemer Luis Felipe Perez, as well as inquiries about personal deals he has made with city…
Rafaiy Alkhalifa’s Miami funeral homes of horror
Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria and team president Dave Samson have been exposed for the treacherous, no good, low down, lying dogs they are. Sports blog Deadspin got a hold of the Marlins’ financial information which shows the team turned a profit the last two years and that the team…
With one of the most brutal primary elections in the bag, it’s time to sift through the carnage. Let’s start with the winners.The Dark Side of the Force: Using $50 million of his own money, tea party favorite Darth Sideous Rick Scott powered his way past Bill McCollum to win…
Will Bill McCollum and Kendrick Meek hold back the two millionaire candidates? Will Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado’s blossoming political machine get his daughter a seat on the Miami-Dade School Board? Will Dorrin Rolle survive his scandalous year to win another term to the county commission? Will David Rivera overcome a brutal…
52-0. That’s how many times incumbent county commissioners have won at the polls since 1994. And it certainly looks like Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Javier Souto, or Dorrin Rolle will keep that winning streak alive by the time the polls close tomorrow.Diaz, who raised $325,000 to crush an opponent who collected…
With the primary election six days away, undecided voters usually turn to the Miami Herald’s editorial board to help them decide who is the best candidate for the job. Unfortunately, Miami’s only daily failed miserably when it came to its picks for District 2 county commissioner and District 35 state…
Javier Souto should have been sent out to the political pasture a long time ago.But lobbyists and special interests know they can cajole the rambling county commissioner to do what they want. So they make sure he stays in power. And even though 71-year-old Bay of Pigs veteran is more…
Ex-Hialeah Police Chief Rolando Bolanos trashes Mayor Julio Robaina on Facebook
