The private detective that uncovered absentee ballot fraud in the Miami-Dade Augu
st 2012 election has nabbed yet another person committing electoral fraud — this time selling “access” to elderly voters, which we have to interpret as access to absentee ballots.
Joe Carillo told Ladra Thursday he would give details Friday about his latest sting operation, in which he gets a woman to allegedly offer access to elderly public housing residents. She also reveals some of her clients and declines a new one because she is working for the opposition. The clients are all judicial candidates, according to a list that she, for whatever reason, voluntarily provided: Elena Tauler, Yolly Roberson, Wendell Graham, Luis Perez-Medina, Lizzet Martinez, Rosy Aponte and Marcia del Rey. And that is her order, not mine.
But there may be other candidates, Carrillo said.
It’s been four years since Carrillo brought wide exposure to a longtime secret election tool used by the savvyist and most ethically challenged campaign strategists: la boletera.
These ballot brokers collect absentee or mail-in ballots, mostly from elderly and public housing residents, for a fee. Carrillo, and later the Miami-Dade Police public corruption unit, tracked one of them going in and out of Mayor Carlos Gimenez‘s Hialeah campaign office in 2012. Deisy Penton de Cabrera was later stopped with dozens of absentee ballots on her, a clear violation of the law. She was arrested, but after the case was transferred to Broward because of a conflict of interest (Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle had hired the consultant who worked with Deisy), she was let go with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
Read related story: Boletera’s notebooks may script AB fraud cover-up
Worse: There was never a follow up into the three notebooks of names, including judicial candidates, for whom Cabrera was paid to pick up ballots. And the detectives who were in charge of that investigation were disbanded and sent to different posts when the public corruption unit was dismantled in 2014. So, basically, there’s nobody watching the store today. (Well, except for Joe Carrillo.)
Nothing happened either to Sergio “El Tio” Robaina — and just guess whose uncle he is — 
even though he was arrested for delivering hundreds of absentee ballots to the district office of Miami-Dade Commissioner Esteban Bovo, who didn’t get so much as a slap on the wrist. That whole thing — including the commissioner’s aide who was caught transporting the ballots in the trunk of her car from his office to the mail house — was just swept under the rug.
Dotty Vazquez didn’t get a slap on the wrist either. Oh, you never heard of her because she never got caught. So, instead, she got a job at the mayor’s office. She is now one of 12 mayor’s aides (and yes, that sounds excessive, but that’s another story).
A known boletera — just ask any number of Hialeah former electeds — Dotty was paid at least $10,000
from Mayor Gimenez’s Common Sense Now PAC in 2012 for “consulting,” according to campaign finance reports. And we all know she’s not a consultant. That’s just one of the many code words used for boletera work. Here’s Dotty pictured (right) with Gimenez at the same 2012 Hialeah campaign opening that Cabrera attended. Since at least 2014, however, she has been a $36,000-a-year mayor’s aide. Ladra has to wonder how she uses her skill set there. Or how she spends her days. Especially this week, after absentee ballots were mailed out to voters. A source who works at the county says she is called an “outreach coordinator” and spends a lot of her time at senior centers. But of course! She is sowing the seeds. We know she spends Saturdays at honk and wave campaign events with Transit Director Alice Bravo, but that’s another story. And let’s face it, both their jobs depend on Gimenez staying the boss.
The point is that the State Attorney’s Office doesn’t have to look too far to find boleteros. And, obviously, all they have to do is follow some of these people for a few days or stage a simple sting. But nooooo. It takes, again, a private citizen outraged with the blatant fraud going on to try to put a stop to it.
Read related story: AB fraud PI is a hero until proven otherwise
Carrillo said he and attorney Rick Yabor had received information about the woman selling 
“access” to voters at Robert King High, an elderly public housing building in Little Havana, about four weeks ago. They immediately contacted the state attorney’s office and were told that they would initiate an undercover operation only if they got a current candidate involved. Can you imagine that? Are they that short-staffed at public corruption or are they just lazy? Carrillo said he and Yabor met with several candidates and none would participate in the sting for fear of political retribution.
So they set up their own undercover operation and sent investigators to meet with the woman. “And the target offered to grant ‘special access’ to elderly voters for a fee,” Carrillo said in a press release advising of a press conference Friday. “The target advised investigators of candidates that she was ‘helping.’ The target further advised 
that she refused to help certain other candidates because she had been paid by their opponents.”
Carillo would not provide Ladra with any more details. He would not tell her whether or not Gimenez or Fernandez Rundle are implicated yet again. But at least two of the judicial candidates hired Al Lorenzo, the same consultant who was tainted in the 2012 AB fraud scandal. Carrillo said more details would come out Friday.
Apparently, he is giving the State Attorney’s Office time to move on their own investigation. Carrillo said he told prosecutors about his findings on Tuesday. Investigators worked with Diario las Americas to produce the evidence. Perhaps this press conference is intended to pressure prosecutors. It certainly should at the very least embarrass them that a couple of P.I.s can do a better job, again, than the public corruption unit at the biggest county in the state.
Because right now, the message sent to boleteras is that they don’t get punished in Miami-Dade. They get $36,000-a-year county jobs.
Boleteras alive and well — and working in the mayor’s office added by Ladra on
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Ladra,
The only one who has any blind hate and a vested interest here is you. You are paid by the Regalado campaign. I am just a neutral party to the fact. Common sense will tell you that I would not be disparaging Carlos Gimenez and his family if I was indeed Michael Hernandez.
As for Mosquito Control, I know it is under the County. My point is that Mayor Thomas Regalado instead of saying that Wyndwood is safe place to visit should have been more responsible and call out Carlos Gimenez on the red carpet.
I hope you hear my bark loud and clear. Because I will continue to voice my opinion whether deleted or not. Furthermore, I am a community activist within my community and I will make that my thousands of supporter will vote anybody Raquelita Regalado.
Scooby Dooby Doooo!!!!! Raquelita Regalado we will not for yoooouuuu!!!
Nacho Libre,
This is how ignorant you are. I will continue to say that Carlos Gimenez, his sons, wife and entire family are garbage. However, the Regalado Family in my opinion are far worse. As for the Zika outbreak, let the record reflect that Wynwood is in the City of Miami. I ask who is the Mayor of the City of Miami? That is right Thomas Regalado. What has he done? Absolutely nothing. The same thing can be said about his two terms as Mayor. What has he done? Absolutely nothing. Instead he walks around the Wynwood area and declares the neighborhood is safe. A day later the Governor states otherwise.
Incompetence and being a crook runs in the family! Look at his and kids track record.
Again, Mr. Hernandez, the comments that just trash people and add nothing will be deleted…
This one miiiight be legitimate…except that mosquito control is a county function/operation. And it shows that your blind hate leads to ignorance and gets in the way of reality. Miami like Homestead and Doral and Medley and the other municipalities in Miami-Dade rely on the county’s service, which has been decreased in the last few years. In fact, I think that the plane bought for spraying with a $1 million grant is sitting in an Opa-Locka hangar gathering dust. I am looking into that, because THAT is relevant.
Your personal attacks are not. So add something or get used to being deleted. I’m done with your abuse of my space. Get your own soapbox if you want one.
Woof!
Noche Libre, or as I know you fake movie character who’s too afraid to identify himself. Why should I have to do all the things you want me to do? First, you seem to able to do them yourself, and you seem to have all the supposed facts, so go to it. I don’t work for you, and it isn’t my day to do your bidding.
I publish a blog that is mine to fill with what ever I want to fill it with. I write what I want, when I want, and how I want. That’s my right and privilege. If you don’t like it, then start your own blog, because I’m not going to spend my time taking orders from toy or anyone else!
As for Homestead Miami, the only shill I know around here is Chica Chica, who’s currently on the Raquelita payroll.
The stakes are high. It’s a shame that AL Crespo has become a shill for Gimenez, even writing on several blogs to provoke and insult, without adding substance. The only point that Got a Point makes is his self serving interest in supporting Gimenez reelection. Without Gimenez as mayor, it’s highly unlikely Mr. Hernandez will be able to retain his highly paid, low skill pandering job. Mr. Hernandez, you’re a subpar orator, who provides subpar service. Wipe your chin, and don’t forget to dust off the scrub marks from your slacks. You’ve been on your knees for way too long.
Why, because of Crespo’s visceral loathing for the Regalado family, he is conveniently serving as your tool? Why Crespo doesn’t write about Gimenez failure to effectively attack the Wynwood zika outbreak at its unset? Why Doesn’t Crespo write about the paltry mosquito control budget allocation; in all places Miami-Dade? Why Crespo doesn’t write about Gimenez failure to proactively move funds from County other budget lines to the mosquito control? Now that Zika has metastasized in Wynwood, Gimenez might have, but it is too late. Why Crespo doesn’t ask what excuses might Gimenez conjured for expecting mothers in Wynwood.
Thank you, Watchful Eye, for making me feel better about something that I had just done.
I have removed several comments that said the same repetitive bull by Got-A-Point. I won’t remove comments if they add perspective or new information or at least articulate intelligent arguments for or against whatever. But if it’s just to smear someone, whether that’s me or someone else, your comment will be removed.
My policy, and the default on this site, is that people with addresses and IPs that have been approved before are, obviously, not spam robots and are automatically approved without having to need moderation again. But people like Mike Hernandez (Got-A-Point) are going to make me change that, dear readers, if they keep abusing my space for their spin and propaganda. I don’t want to have to moderate everybody, but I will not let Political Cortadito be hijacked for evil. Woof!
Love, Ladra
What we need to do is change Abs back to how they were years ago. Or change the regulations period. We lost good candidates because of AB FRAUD.
Personally I think she should remove all of mike Hernandez’ comments
Can someone tell us who is:
Consulting Associate Group
200 Nw 165 Avenue
Pembroke Pines, fl 33028
They have received $100,000.00 from Gimenez’ “Common Sense Now” ECO within a three month period. That address is not a business nor is there a business registered there with the city of Pembroke Pines.
Ironically the business comes back to Joe Carollo (yes the former mayor of city of Miami who was ousted and formerly city of Doral manager who was ousted).
Carollo also was in business with Carlos Julio Gimenez (yes Mayor Gimenez son) with a company called GreaterMiami Host Association, inc. That address came back to 3126 Coral Way.
In short, these are professional thieves stealing every which way they can from taxpayers. It’s become more blatant under Carlos Gimenez.
Ladra the only thing that will stop this madness is what Carillo couldn’t get, a candidate like the one that turned in Pizzi and Marono and we all know how that went. No one wants to be the Star of that movie any more. You know I remember years back how the Feds would infiltrate organizations and wrap things up. You think by now that would of happened here, I am sure this Reco act could of been taken down years ago but not even at that level will it. Just look at what the SAO released earlier today, no crime to get payed for helping candidates as a administrator or worker of county or city employment. Only if your holding more than one Ballot in hand, wow so sad things have come to this, I think carillo and friends should move on to other worst things happening. This ballot thing is a dead horse and going nowhere folks. The bottom line is nobody cares and it’s an epidemic that’s moved north and west like The Zica virus. No cure no importance if your not pregnant or want kids.
“Both protecting the right to vote and combating voter fraud are essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our system of government.” Will the FBI engage beyond a “Press Release?” I hope so!
https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/pressrel/press-releases/ballotfraud_102710
If the public truly knew! This doesn’t even scratch the surface of the problem. All of the authorities are fully aware but the investigators themselves are NOT permitted to do their job. Their told “that’s off limits”. Gimenez’ millions goes far to protect the most corrupt, starting with him.
Any wonder why Gimenez disbanded the public Corruption squad????? It lessens the chances of him getting nabbed