Political money scam alleged (Miami-Dade, Florida)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Wed, Aug. 18, 2004


Political money scam alleged

The sister-in-law of a County Commission candidate schemed to help him get public financing, prosecutors say. Her arrest comes as officials announce a special team to handle reports of fraud and voter concerns.

BY TERE FIGUERAS
[e-mail]

The sister-in-law of a Miami-Dade County Commission candidate was arrested Tuesday -- accused of faking campaign contributions from co-workers and then telling them to lie to investigators, according to the state attorney's office.

Rita Lazara Picazo, whose brother-in-law is District 13 candidate Jorge Roque, is facing six felony counts for what investigators say was a scheme to file bogus contributions in order to help Roque qualify for public financing.

Roque, who is running against incumbent Commissioner Natacha Seijas in Northwest Dade, has not been charged, but his campaign account was frozen by a court order.
(snip)

Picazo's arrest is notable for another reason: She is the second person charged this election season with taking advantage of recently enacted campaign reforms intended to level the political playing field. Last week, the lone challenger to Commissioner Bruno Barreiro was disqualified from the District 5 race after an arrest on fraud charges.
(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/9427684.htm
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[tlcandie]

1. I guess we will have to change the name of our state from Florida

to Fraudia! :+

Please note I said 'OUR' meaning I am a Floridian errrr Fraudian!

[gatlingforme]

2. It's amazing what a person thinks she can do and not realize

you can actually get caught!

[david_vincent]

3. Corruption in Florida?

NO HWAAAYYYY!!

[struggle4progress]

4. Miami-Dade forms panel to oversee election

By Madeline Baró Diaz
Miami Bureau
Posted August 18 2004

<snip>
The task force includes the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Miami-Dade Inspector General's office, the Miami-Dade Elections Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
<snip>

With that in mind, the State Attorney's Office announced the arrest of the sister-in-law of county commission candidate Jorge Roque for an alleged scheme that netted Roque $75,000 in public campaign funds.
<snip>

Picazo is charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft, solicitation to commit perjury in an official proceeding and is also accused of violating a contributions limitation statute. Roque was not charged in the case.
<snip>

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-delections18aug18,0,3862377.story?coll=sfla-news-miami