MIAMI – Opening statements began Tuesday in the public corruption trial of former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez.
He’s accused of accepting a hefty bribe from a local supermarket owner.
Martinez was there along with his family and nine jurors who will decide if he is guilty or not.
In opening statements, prosecutors painted a picture, a quid pro quo relationship between suspended Martinez and at least one local supermarket owner.
Martinez was arrested in 2022 and charged with accepting payments in exchange for pushing for a county ordinance on storage containers.
The proposal, however, was never adopted.
The former commissioner and former cop has been charged with unlawful compensation and conspiracy to commit unlawful compensation.
His defense attorneys argue Martinez’s actions were part of his helping nature and any payments at issue was money he received as a private citizen and not unlawfully.
If convicted, Martinez faces up to 20 years in prison.