MIAMI – A Miami-Dade jury deliberated for about three hours before returning with two guilty verdicts Thursday afternoon in the corruption case against former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle released the following statement on the verdict:
“In 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. With the guilty verdict against former County Commissioner Joe Martinez,” she said.
“Twelve Miami-Dade County citizens weighed the evidence, heard all the testimony, and decided that using one’s elected position for a financial benefit will not be tolerated in this community. I applaud the talented prosecutorial team of Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Tim VanderGiesen and Assistant State Attorney William Gonzalez for effectively bringing forth the essential case elements that led to this verdict.”
Earlier in the day the trial had moved into the final phase, as a jury deliberated on whether Martinez was guilty of accepting bribes in exchange for political influence.
Martinez is accused of accepting $15,000 from the owner of a local supermarket who faced substantial fines due to code violations related to excessive storage containers on the property.
Prosecutors allege that, in return for the payment, Martinez promised to push favorable legislation before the Miami-Dade County Commission. However, the proposed legislation was never brought to a vote.
Prosecutor Tim Vander Giesen argued that Martinez attempted to exploit his public office for personal gain.
“Mr. Martinez cannot use his position or authority to benefit himself personally, and that’s what he was trying to do,” Vander Giesen told the jury.
Martinez’s defense attorney, Ben Kuehne, countered by portraying the former commissioner as a dedicated public servant with a long record of integrity. “There’s one quality that shows through his honorable and honored service,” Kuehne said. “His call to duty to serve the public his entire life.”
Martinez faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
The jury’s verdict will determine the future of a once-prominent figure in Miami-Dade County politics.
