MIAMI – The former director of Miami International Airport's Terminal Maintenance Division was sentenced Thursday to seven years in federal prison for the fraudulent purchase of thousands of lighting fixtures.
Ivan Valdes pleaded guilty to a federal theft charge in October and agreed to serve seven years in prison as part of a plea deal.
File: Ivan Valdes plea agreement
The courtroom was filled to capacity with his family, friends and former coworkers who had arrived in a show of support, some of whom had written letters to Judge Darrin Gayle requesting leniency.
"He is an angel," one supporter, Melba Corona, told Local 10 News reporter Glenna Milberg. "He was set up. He was set up by delinquents."
Valdes declined to comment to Local 10 News as he left the courthouse.
According to a federal complaint, Valdes used his position from 2010 to 2015 to manipulate the bid process for light fixture vendors hoping to provide services at MIA.
With the help of several co-conspirators, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department purchased as many as 500 light fixtures at a time from the "winning vendor," and Valdes and his co-conspirators received a share of the proceeds from the orders, the complaint said.
Authorities said more than 9,000 fixtures were purchased from the company between 2010 and 2015, and Valdes and his co-conspirators collected more than $5 million in the scheme.
Four other defendants face various fraud conspiracy charges, and a fifth man, Glenwood Pla, 50, was charged this week with accepting bribery payments.
Prosecutors said Pla was a former procurement specialist for the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department. He faces a maximum term of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. He made his first court appearance on Thursday.
Under the terms of Valdes' plea agreement, Valdes agreed to cooperate with the U.S. government and is subject to forfeitures as a result of his criminal actions.
Valdes left the courthouse after his sentencing. He has 60 days to surrender and is expected to turn himself in on March 3.
Valdes also faces state charges, including bribery, bid tampering, official misconduct and money laundering.
He is scheduled to take a plea in state court next week.