Two more city mayors, Mayor Michael A. Pizzi, 51, the Mayor of Miami Lakes, FL, and Town Attorney for the Town of Medley, and Manuel L. Maroño, the Mayor of Sweetwater, FL, have been charged in two separate federal complaints involving public corruption allegations. Two lobbyists were also charged for their alleged participation in a kickback and bribery scheme (the Maroño complaint) in connection with purported federal grants for the City of Sweetwater.
Here is a link to the August 6, 2013, press release issued by Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office. This link includes embedded links to the complaints filed with the federal district court. Both complaints charge the defendants with conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a).
The complaints allege that Mayor Maroño of Sweetwater received more than $40,000 in bribes, and Mayor Pizzi of Miami Lakes received $6,750 in bribes.
I just do not see the point of continuing to post stories similar to this one. This is Coeur d’Alene. Such a thing would never happen here. I suggest you should move away from this type of topic and focus on such things as posting pretty pictures of the City beach.
Comment by up river — August 7, 2013 @ 12:54 pm
up river,
You are probably correct — the chances of the US Attorney for the District of Idaho ever bringing a bribery charge against an Idaho official is zip, zero, zilch, nada. As the line in the song goes, “…but I can dream, can’t I?”
Comment by Bill — August 7, 2013 @ 4:17 pm
I will never forget when we handed a case on a silver platter to the FBI here in the area many moons ago … nothing. I really did not believe in corruption until I accidently fell into it. But, call me crazy, that is how it works. I don’t think about it much anymore but when I do, it makes me mad because I know it’s a hopeless cause and the honest guy will rarely make a difference when they come forward. The reality is you will be ruined, mocked, and harassed. This is Idaho. I am getting old now, I am a done deal, just trying to survive. When you know, you know. But, there are times, when you want a “piece” of them and there is a part of you that does dream that Humpty Dumpty will have a great fall.
Comment by Stebbijo — August 7, 2013 @ 5:56 pm