Federal prosecutors will bring two of the most interesting witnesses to the stand Wednesday in the tax evasion and fraud case against former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and wife Raiza, in connection to their alleged shadow banking business that boomed in the City of Progress during Robaina’s reign. Expected to testify today: Councilwoman Vivian “I’ll […]
Opening statements began today in the federal tax evasion and fraud trial against former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and his wife Raiza, in what is likely to become one of the closest watched local political trials lately — and that’s saying something in this atmosphere. According to documents from the U.S. Attorney’s office, witnesses include […]
Ladra wants to be happy about it. Believe me. But it seems like the scales of justice are a little off, here. The U.S. Attorney’s office announced today that a former Miami-Dade Public Works employee had pleaded guilty to a charge of bribery after an FBI investigation found that he was taking $13,000 in kickbacks — […]
Despite all the fresh meat in the political corruption grinder, the long-suffered federal tax evasion and fraud case against former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina is still churning. Several sources told Ladra that subpoenas were served on several people involved in the case, including City Clerk Marbelys Fatjo and other city employees as well as Councilwoman […]
One of the boleteros nabbed last year in a series of politically-connected absentee ballot arrests is set to be in court today. Or is Tio Sergio Robaina, uncle of former and indicted Hialeah mayor Julio Robaina, going to escape the limelight of the courtroom again and further prolong answering questions? There was a motion filed July 26 to […]
She’s baaaaaack. After a long and strange absence (read: maternity leave) during all these AB fraud arrests and shenanigans in the past year, Absentee Ballot Queen Sasha Tirador has re-entered the political atmosphere — as a political pundit and AB expert. And, possibly, as campaign manager again for Hialeah Mayor Carlos “Castro” Hernandez, which may that she […]
The latest investigation into the abuse of the electoral system vis-a-vis absentee ballots is scandalous all by itself. But put together with decades of questionable and downright illegal AB activity, it’s an absolute outrage. Recent news about Congressman Joe Garcia‘s campaign having illegally requested hundreds of absentee ballots for unaware voters is just the latest […]
The first public glimpse into the absentee ballot machine in Hialeah may come this week via the uncle of former Mayor Julio Robaina, known as “El Tio,” who was arrested last year in one of the dominos to fall after boletera Deisy Cabrera was first arrested. Tio Sergio Robaina, who was arrested in August, faces two […]
Hialeah Mayor Carlos “Castro” Hernandez — who likes to intimidate and silence his critics — has certainly earned his new nickname with his latest show of force and abuse of power against one of his biggest foes, Fire Union Vice President Eric Johnson. And just in time, as the heat turns up in the county […]
Roll the dice. Pick a card. Or a candidate. The race for Miami-Dade School Board in District 7 has already become a backdrop for the larger casino gambling issue that Ladra will bet — in fact, I’m all-in — becomes part and parcel of a bunch of campaigns this year, including what promises to be […]