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Miami – February 17, 2022 – Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami Beach Inspector General Joseph Centorino and Miami Beach Police Chief Richard Clements announce yesterday’s surrender of City of Miami Beach employee Cadel Aldana to Miami Beach Police on charges of:
• 1 count of Official Misconduct 3rd Degree Felony
• 1 count of Theft. 1st Degree misdemeanor
“While stories of government workers using city resources and staff for private purposes always undermine the confidence of taxpayers, Miami Beach residents should recognize and appreciate the vigilant efforts of the Miami Beach Inspector General, the Miami Beach Police Department and my Public Corruption prosecutors who work to ensure that such activities end,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Cadel Aldana, Operations Supervisor in the City’s Facilities and Fleet Department since 2017, turned himself in to the City of Miami Beach Police following an investigation based on a tip provided to the Miami Beach Inspector General. The investigation, conducted jointly by the Miami Beach Inspector General’s Office and the Miami Beach Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, led to the City’s termination of Aldana’s employment last week.
The investigation found that during 2020, the suspect allegedly directed a subordinate to construct a large metal storage bracket. The task was carried out by the subordinate employee on Miami Beach City premises during work hours. The bracket, however, did not find its way into any City facility, but ended up in the backyard of Mr. Aldana’s home in Hialeah where it was being used as a kayak holder, according to a police report.
A search warrant executed by the Miami Beach Police led to the discovery and seizure of the stolen property, which is the basis of the Theft charge. The charge of Official Misconduct is based on the suspect’s allegedly causing the creation of a false city work order describing the item in question as “brackets for a saddle mounted toolbox.” Interviews of Miami Beach City employees by the Inspector General and Miami Beach Police, along with surveillance of Aldana’s home, led to the search warrant and recovery of the stolen item by police.
Miami Beach Inspector General Joseph Centorino stated that, “This investigation would not have succeeded without the full cooperation of City of Miami Beach employees who provided crucial sworn testimony attesting to the facts of the case as well as the involvement of Miami Beach Police who worked jointly with my office to complete the investigation. This illustrates the importance of encouraging public employees to come forward to authorities to protect the City’s taxpayers from this type of misuse of City resources.”