Top Miami Republican arrested on bribery and money laundering charges

In Miami politics, a major bombshell came down on Thursday, September 14 when City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla was arrested on charges of bribery, money laundering and criminal conspiracy.

In addition, the Miami New Times' Theo Karantsalis reports, Díaz de la Portilla is facing about ten other criminal charges, which include three counts of unlawful compensation, four counts of misconduct, two counts of failing to report gifts, and one count of taking campaign contributions that exceeded legal limits.

Attorney William W. Riley Jr. is a co-defendant in the case.

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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) alleges that the Miami city commissioner took more than $15,000 worth of payments for his brother's judicial campaign in Miami-Dade County and failed to report the money.

Díaz de la Portilla, a Republican, formerly served in both branches of the Florida State Legislature.

Karantsalis notes, "Díaz de la Portilla and Riley Jr. were held on $72,000 and $46,000 bonds, respectively. Officers booked them into Turner Guilford Knight Detention Center in Miami following their arrest. The case is being prosecuted in Broward County court."

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Find the Miami New Times' full report at this link.