MIAMI – Miami-Dade prosecutors rested their case against former State Sen. Frank Artiles Friday. His defense soon followed.
Prosecutors accused the Republican politician of being the brains behind a scheme to confuse Florida Senate District 37 voters with a no-party “ghost candidate,” Alex Rodríguez, running against then-Democratic incumbent, Florida Sen. Jose Javier Rodríguez and Republican candidate Ileana García.
Alex Rodríguez ran in exchange for $50,000, he testified.
Prosecutors accused Artiles, 50, of committing felony campaign fraud while directing a ploy to confuse Florida District 27 voters who intended to choose the Democrat.
On Friday, defense attorneys finished their cross-examination of a police officer. They called their first witness out of order on Thursday.
They had credit collector Raul Sanchez take the stand Friday. He lent Alex Rodríguez a credit card to buy thousands of dollars worth of construction equipment he said he needed. But when Rodríguez charged more than he was allowed, Artiles disputed the charge.
Sanchez said it took a while for Rodríguez to pay the bill.
“It’s classic Alex to have an excuse as to why something didn’t happen,” Sanchez said. “Alex is the type of person who will tell you he’ll do something on Tuesday but you have to figure out which Tuesday. there’s always something.”
Sanchez’s testimony was part of the defense’s strategy of showing that the state’s star witness is a liar who was actually scamming Artiles.
Artiles chose not to take the stand before the defense wrapped up its case.
Closing arguments are set to begin Monday.