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Former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez found guilty in corruption trial

MIAMI ā€“ Jurors found former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez guilty of two felony corruption charges Thursday after a trial that lasted a little more than a week.

Martinez was facing charges of conspiracy and unlawful compensation after authorities accused him of taking $15,000 from a supermarket owner and his landlord in a failed effort to get a county ordinance changed to clear up code enforcement issues.

The verdict came in just after 5 p.m., following a few hours of deliberation. The former elected official and police officer now faces up to 20 years in prison.

A relative of Martinez wailed as the verdict came in.

6 p.m. report:

During closing arguments, prosecutors said the fact that the money stopped coming in as soon as the ordinance failed to pass shows that it was a quid-pro-quo. Defense attorneys have argued that it was a private transaction with someone the former commissioner has known for years.

ā€œThe reason why the money stops is because the deal fell through,ā€ prosecutor Tim VanderGiesen said. ā€œThe legislation didnā€™t pass so (there was) no reason why any more money was needed.ā€

VanderGiesen argued that ā€œa public official canā€™t shake people down to benefit themselves with their public jobs.ā€

Martinezā€™s attorney, Ben Kuehne, said there was ā€œno evidence that Joe Martinez was desperate for money, couldnā€™t pay his bills, was behind on his mortgage, none of that.ā€

ā€œWhether it was when he is in office or out, a retired law enforcement officer or private citizen, he was always looking to help everyone else,ā€ Kuehne said.

Following his conviction on both charges, Martinez is now scheduled to have a Dec. 20 pre-sentencing hearing.

Martinez and his attorneys plan to appeal.

ā€œLook, everybody here, my family, theyā€™ve been with me every single day, right? And it hurts,ā€ an emotional Martinez said after the verdict. ā€œAnd you ask every one of my kids and theyā€™re still proud.ā€

In a statement following the verdict, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle referenced Martinezā€™s previous accusations that he was politically targeted in 2022 as a then-potential ā€” and later unsuccessful ā€” Republican candidate for sheriff as she hailed the juryā€™s decision.

ā€œIn every public corruption prosecution, an attempt is made to belittle the evidence by claiming that politics, not the proofs, are the source of the criminal charges,ā€ she said in part. ā€œWith the guilty verdict against former County Commissioner Joe Martinez, (six) Miami-Dade County citizens weighed the evidence, heard all the testimony, and decided that using oneā€™s elected position for a financial benefit will not be tolerated in this community.ā€

Editorā€™s note: An original version of Fernandez Rundleā€™s statement mistakenly referenced 12 jurors and was later corrected. Six jurors rendered the verdict.


About the Authors
Christina Vazquez headshot

Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station. She is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment "Call Christina."

Chris Gothner headshot

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

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