As this joyous holiday season begins and we look forward to gathering with family and friends, we reflect on what we have; what we are grateful for; and the many blessings we have received this year. I personally feel an immense sense of gratitude and humility for the trust that you have bestowed upon me and my office. To have been retained as your State Attorney without opposition is a great honor and a tremendous responsibility. As always, you can count on me to uphold the law fairly and keep our community safe.
This past year alone (to date) we have filed to prosecute over 10,000 criminal felony cases of which 79% have resulted in a successful prosecution. Our Victims Services Unit has assisted 15,600 victims and next of kin. Of the 1,825 individuals we have assisted through our Second Chance: Sealing & Expungement events held monthly throughout Miami-Dade County, 1,405 were eligible to either seal or expunge a criminal case off their record, removing barriers to securing education, housing, employment, and a better future.
Being the fourth largest prosecutorial agency in the country always has its challenges. In the past few years, Miami’s extraordinarily high cost of living and competitive job market have impacted recruitment and retention and added to the unexpected backlog of cases as a result of a global pandemic. We went to our state legislature, as we do every year, and were successful in securing an increase in salary for incoming Assistant State Attorneys. Though we are grateful for the continued support from our legislators and the increases prosecutors and public defenders have received over the past few years, it is not enough to attract, recruit, and retain the talented and skilled lawyers that our community deserves.
While we used vacancy money to raise our Legislatively funded starting salary to $70,000, it still remains in the bottom 25% paid to entry-level attorneys in Miami. My Leadership Team and I will return to Tallahassee this upcoming session and speak to all our statewide legislators in order to avoid a potential constitutional crisis. I have had several meetings and discussions with key leadership regarding our legislative requests for this session.
I and everyone at your State Attorney’s Office appreciate your support and partnership as we consistently work to find effective ways to keep our community safe and seek justice for victims of crimes. We are grateful for you and look forward to a happy holiday season and a 2025 filled with promise and peace.
Thank you and God Bless,
IN THIS EDITION
Honoring Our Troops:
Celebrating Veterans
National District Attorneys Association
Fall 2024 Board Meeting
3rd Annual Pig Roast Bowl Series:
"Meat the Law"
Restoring Public Trust:
Guilty Verdict in Public Corruption Case
Season of Giving:
SAO Partners with CABA for Toy Drive
Tomorrow's Legal Leaders:
SAO Recruitment Efforts
Community Outreach in Action
The Success of Our Crime Fighters:
November Trial Victory
SAO Profile in Passion
Brenda Mezick, Director, Human Trafficking
Honoring Our Troops:
Celebrating Veterans
Veteran’s Day, observed annually on November 11th, honors the service and sacrifice of all the United States military veterans. Veteran’s Day serves as an important reminder of the dedication, courage, and selflessness of those who have served our country. This day provides us an opportunity to show our gratitude for the men and women who continually fight for our freedom.
Throughout November, the State Attorney’s Office participated in several community events to recognize those who serve and give back to our Miami-Dade Veteran Community.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle attended the Second Annual Veterans Stand Down hosted by the newly elected Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and District 10 Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez. This free event offered 70+ resources to the public, including our “Second Chance” Seal or Expunge Event, while celebrating and supporting America’s heroes.
SAO Representatives participated in the 2nd Annual Veterans Stand Down where they provided support to veterans, including offering the State Attorney’s “Second Chance” Seal or Expunge Event and assisting in Veteran’s Court.
The State Attorney’s Office, along with the help of the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller and the Florida Public Defender Association assisted 61 individuals in sealing or expunging a Miami-Dade County arrest, with 33 eligible.
As part of the Stand Down event, Honorable Judge Steve Leifman presided over a special court session that allowed veterans to address cases ranging from minor traffic infractions to Veteran Court issues. During this time, our office was able to help 30 veterans and servicemembers with resources that they otherwise may have difficulty obtaining.
Community Outreach Representative Luis Martinez and the Justice in Motion (JIM) Bus team joined together to participate in the City of Miami Beach's 16th Annual Veterans Day parade and celebration, where the community gathered to honor the brave men and women who have served our country.
Community Outreach Representative Janeen Jones attended the City of Miami Gardens 2024 Operation Veterans Stand Down at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex. She provided attendees with information on SAO Programs and Services and reviewed criminal records to determine an individual's eligibility to seal or expunge a Miami-Dade arrest
National District Attorneys Association
Fall 2024 Board Meeting
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle recently spoke at the National District Attorneys Association Fall 2024 Board and Committee Meetings in San Diego, where she shared information on our Smart Justice approach to prosecution.
This important meeting brings together prosecutors, legal experts, community leaders, and policymakers to explore innovative approaches to crime prevention and effective programs.
“It is always an honor to speak with members of the NDAA as it allows me the opportunity to exchange ideas, perceptions, and creative thoughts on advancing the work we do while collaborating with legal leaders to better protect the communities we serve,” stated Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
During her presentation, the State Attorney covered a wide range of important topics, including diversion programs, problem-solving courts, treatment courts, and smart incarceration strategies. Her insights provided valuable perspectives on how these approaches can improve outcomes within the criminal justice system while upholding her mission to protect the community by rehabilitating those we can and incarcerating those we must.
3rd Annual Pig Roast Bowl Series:
"Meat the Law"
The State Attorney’s Office participated in the 3rd Annual Pig Roast Bowl Series hosted by the South Florida Police Benevolent Association. Proceeds raised from this event benefit the Love Fund, which aids fallen officers and their families, helping to pay for the funerals of officers killed in the line of duty, education for the children of fallen officers, and psychological counseling for officers and immediate family members impacted by the stress of the job.
Restoring Public Trust:
Guilty Verdict in Public Corruption Case
Former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez was found guilty of unlawful compensation and conspiracy to commit unlawful compensation while serving in his role as commissioner representing West Kendall.
“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, six Miami-Dade County citizens weighed the evidence, heard all the testimony, and decided that using one’s elected position for a financial benefit would 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,” stated Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Martinez, who was arrested in 2022, was accused of accepting $15,000 from the owner of a local supermarket who faced substantial fines due to code violations. It was also alleged that Martinez intended to push legislation before the Miami-Dade County Commission that would be favorable to the supermarket owner. Although the legislation never came to a vote, the jurors believed it was clear Martinez exploited his public office for personal gain.
After three hours of deliberation, the jurors returned a verdict of guilty
Season of Giving:
SAO Partners with CABA for Toy Drive
This holiday season, the State Attorney’s Office has again partnered with the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) to collect and distribute hundreds of toys to children in need and victimized children of our Miami-Dade community.
Collection boxes have been placed in the lobbies of our facilities, and contributions will be accepted through December 9, 2024. We invite you to help brighten a child’s holiday by donating new, unwrapped toys or gift cards for Human Trafficking victims. The generous contributions of our employees and community partners will ensure that these children, who might otherwise go without, receive a gift during this special time of year.
Tomorrow's Legal Leaders:
SAO Recruitment Efforts
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle welcomed Dean Tarlika Nuñez-Navarro, Senior Director for Career Development Jennifer Ley-Soto, and Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning Ana Isabel Vallejo from St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law to discuss ways to engage students in a public service role and serve their community. During the meeting, the State Attorney highlighted internship opportunities, job placement, and pro bono work available.
Assistant State Attorneys Stacy Cleveland, from the Economic Crimes Unit, and Maritza Clop-Liriano, Felony Division Chief, spoke to students at St. Thomas University College of Law during their Lunch & Learn. Our prosecutors shared insights with the students about the diverse career opportunities available at the State Attorney’s Office, including internship opportunities.
Assistant State Attorneys recently had the privilege to participate in the Florida International University Law Trial Advocacy Program, where they played a vital role in supporting our next generation of lawyers. Acting as critiquing jurors in a mock trial, they provided valuable feedback to law students. This hands-on experience allowed our attorneys to share their insights and expertise, helping aspiring lawyers refine their skills and gain practical courtroom knowledge.
Community Outreach in Action
Community Outreach Representative Janeen Jones, along with JIM Volunteers, attended the No Wrong Door Community Resource Fair at Lincoln Gardens.
This event empowered the community by offering essential resources helping to create opportunities. SAO Representatives provided attendees with information on SAO Programs and Services, including our “Second Chance” Seal or Expunge Event, Child Support, Internet Safety Tips, and more!
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle hosted students from the Law Honor Society at Barbara Goleman Senior High School for their field trip. Attendees visited the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, hearing from the Honorable Judge Kristy Nuñez before joining us to learn about the role of an Assistant State Attorney from Human Trafficking Assistant State Attorneys Yaneth Baez and Nick Chavez.
This firsthand look at the inside of our justice system was organized by Community Outreach Representative Jose Lopez.
Human Trafficking Victim Specialist Tanya and Special Victim Advocate Alice Ortiz attended the "Coffee and Conversation" Gathering hosted by the Pace Center for Girls, where they shared information with their students and staff on our continued efforts to combat Human Trafficking in our community.
SAO Representatives were given a tour of the center, where they explored the classrooms, break-out rooms, supply closet, and clothing boutique available to at-risk students.
The Success of Our Crime Fighters:
November Trial Victory
Congratulations to Felony Division Chief Jonathan Borst and ASA Angel Sierra for securing a guilty verdict of one count each of Manslaughter with a Firearm, Attempted Manslaughter with a Firearm, and Tampering with a Witness.
The Victim attempted to rob the Defendant of his chain in the early morning hours of April 11, 2021, in the area of 22nd Avenue and 92nd Street. In response, the Defendant went back to his car, retrieved his gun, and attacked the Victim and his friend. Both were shot in the back. The Victim died from the gunshot wound. The Defendant did not call the police, and told a witness to lie to the police.
The Defendant testified at trial, but he was impeached with a prior inconsistent statement provided to detectives. The jury found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The ASAs would like to recognize and thank Homicide Counselor Andrea Marquez and Trial Coordinator Mary Clifford for their valuable assistance.
SAO Profile in Passion
Brenda Mezick, Director, Human Trafficking
This month, we highlight a distinguished
member of our SAO family.
We present our
SAO Profile in Passion -
Brenda Mezick.
Brenda Mezick has spent the last 30 and a half years as an Assistant State Attorney at
the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. Throughout her time here, she has held
various positions and gained very valuable specializations. No matter what area she
was assigned to, Brenda has always applied her intellect, experience, creativity, and
passion to everything she has done.
She was born at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital while her father, a U.S. Marine, was
stationed in Vietnam. He was from Maryland and her mother was also from the East
Coast. She is Puerto Rican and has been an art student. After welcoming Brenda and
her younger sister into the world, her mother became an executive assistant to clergy
of different denominations.
As a child, Brenda always had a thirst for knowledge, and adventure and was highly
verbal at a young age. “I wanted to be a paranormal investigator. To my mom’s credit,
in her own gentle way she asked me questions about choosing that career path that
dissuaded me from pursuing that,” she recalls fondly.
It was a classic Christmas movie that sparked her desire to become a lawyer. “Actually,
it was the courtroom scene from ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ that excited me and sparked
an interest in becoming a lawyer, not that I wanted to prosecute Santa. I thought that I
would become a defense attorney."
Brenda grew up in Poolesville, Maryland which was a small town. In high school, she
was in the Mock Trial Club and after graduation, she started working at a law firm that
did criminal defense, trusts, and estates
She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland where she majored
in English and took many philosophy courses. Then she attended Georgetown
University Law Center where she went on to earn her Juris Doctorate.
“While I was in law school, I worked with a lawyer who was doing a civil trial against a
family for the labor exploitation of a Pakistani woman who was their live-in maid.
Nowadays we call it labor trafficking. I ghostwrote my first motion for that trial and I was
hooked!”
It was during her first year of law school that Brenda had what she describes as a crisis
of faith. “I thought that I had made the wrong decision going into law. I would see the
associates hired at law firms and how they grew to be miserable and how they
changed."
Also, while at law school she did teaching at a street law clinic which she found very
fulfilling.
In 1993, Brenda’s legal hero, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall died. “I
remember the quote attributed to his mentor Charles Houston that was ‘“A lawyer’s
either a social engineer, or he’s a parasite on society.’ That had a profound impact on
me and has always stayed with me."
Brenda finished law school not planning to practice law. “I had tried different
specializations of law, and nothing really fit. By accident, I got an internship at the
Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. It was there that I wrote a brief
defending Maryland’s first Hate Crimes statute. It was there where I passionately and
irrevocably fell in love with prosecuting.”
Though she had already graduated without a job, Georgetown allowed her to interview
at the Florida House with the SAO. The Montgomery District Attorney called State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle personally to give a recommendation for
Brenda.
“Brenda has an instinctive intellectual curiosity that has always enlivened her life. Her
ability to see applications of new concepts and ideas has helped broaden our vision of
community problems and helped develop concrete approaches to solving those
problems,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “I know I have put her
many talents to work during her time here in Miami-Dade County which clearly
stimulated her personal creativity, but she has made the lives of so many people
better. That is a legacy of which both she and we can be proud.”
“When I got the job, I had never been to Miami let alone Florida. I started at the SAO in
1994. I took the auto train to Orlando and drove down. My first week I did a ride along
with Marine Patrol and thought to myself ‘I made the right choice’.”
After coming up through the ranks, Brenda became the Chief of County Court. At one
point she and two other prosecutors had to argue against a challenge to the Intoxilyzer.
It was an en banc hearing with all the judges. The material we presented in cross-examination was so good that the hearing was ended, and the judges decided in our
favor.”
When Brenda went to the Felony Division, she volunteered to do cases involving DNA
admissibility challenges. So besides having a sub-specialization on blood taking in DUI
cases, she also specialized in DNA.
“I had always been interested in acting and science, as an aside, I guess those both
came into play in the courtroom as you present the case and the science, cybercrimes,
and DNA evidence. I went on the national prosecutor circuit speaking on DNA defense
expert rebuttal. I also wrote the original DNA predicates. With Miami-Dade Police
Department Commander Stephanie Stoiloff.”
Though she loved being a homicide prosecutor, Brenda moved to the Sexual Battery
unit and later to Cyber Crimes in 2008.
“During my time in the Cyber Crimes unit, I had to view thousands of images and
videos of child pornography which took its toll. My dad who had been a combat Marine
recognized what I was going through and said, ‘You think because you are smart that
you can beat this, but you can’t’.”
In early 2012, Brenda took a step in a different direction accepting a position in the
Organized Crime Unit where she learned how to prosecute RICO cases.
State Attorney Fernandez Rundle asked Brenda to second chair a Human Trafficking
case that had a child porn component and involved a foster care group home. “In that
case, I found my niche in the office.
In November 2012, Brenda was selected to be the first Human Trafficking prosecutor
in the Human Trafficking Unit. “I was able to apply my cyber background and
experience prosecuting internet crimes against children. This was a critical asset in the
emerging area of Human Trafficking since so much of the commercial exploitation of
minors was being advertised and transacted online.”
“The State Attorney and I worked to reform the state statute to better mirror the federal
statute, most significantly by removing the requirement that you do not have to prove
coercion in cases involving minors who cannot legally consent.”
The State Attorney promoted me to Chief of Policy for Human Trafficking, and we
continued to work on building our legal infrastructure to better protect our victims from
traffickers.
State Attorney Fernandez Rundle also sent Brenda to conferences to learn more from
trauma specialists about neuroscience and trauma-informed care. The SAO Human
Trafficking prosecution model was created to be victim-centered and trauma-informed.
“We learned that to truly help a victim population suffering so severely from complex
trauma, we had to shift our understanding of what it meant to be a successful
prosecution. Success was not about maximizing years of incarceration of traffickers
with trials many of our victims were too traumatized to endure.”
In 2018, after working with the State Attorney on numerous successful legislative
initiatives and trial work, Brenda took a step back from working with trauma victims and
accepted a position in the Economic Crimes Unit (ECU) but continued to work behind
the scenes on legislation to protect minor victims of Human Trafficking called the Child
Protection Act.
“While at economic crimes I was assigned elderly exploitation cases. I pitched the idea
of an elderly unit within the ECU as I realized that these cases were both financially
complex and involved victims who often had age-related impairments. Brenda worked
with the Chief of Investigations Emiliano Tamayo who had identified early the rising
number of financial exploitation of the elderly cases. Then COVID came and State
Attorney was not able to open a new unit at that time.
“However, the State Attorney allowed me to specialize in these elder exploitation
cases. We then followed the pattern that was used to create the Human Trafficking
Unit and Task Force. The State Attorney created the SAO Elderly and Vulnerable Adult
Taskforce. She also formed, with the partnership of Sen Rene Garcia and Mayor
Daniella Levine Cava, the Elder and Vulnerable Adult (EVA) Workgroup.
“We began by focusing on the Department of Children and Families (DCF) adult
protection reports of which they are mandated to notify us. We discovered that less
than 10% of these cases were referred to the SAO for prosecution. So that was one of
the first things we handled. I was lucky to count on my colleagues Victims Specialist
Carmen Duran and EVA Commander, Christine Molina, and Chief Tamayo who are
just as passionate about this topic.”
In 2022, the State Attorney asked Brenda to accept the position of Director of the
Human Trafficking Unit. She accepted the position while continuing to handle some
EVA cases. Brenda has also worked on legislative proposals regarding elder and
vulnerable adult exploitation. She has also helped to work on the implementation of an
effective process for our criminal justice system to comply with the 2018 Vulnerable
Adult Act that was created for the emergency protection of vulnerable adults from
financial exploitation
Looking back on her career at the SAO Brenda explains that I discovered on the job
that my strongest talent was helping to create legal infrastructure. SA Fernandez
Rundle is a visionary who allowed me to do the work I was best at and provided me
with an opportunity to make an impact. I am unbelievably grateful that the universe
paired me with the right State Attorney to do this work.”
Now after almost 31 years of service, Brenda will be retiring on December 5th, 2024 to
focus on family, focus on voice acting, exploring her artistic side, and traveling – lots of
traveling.
Brenda’s advice to current ASAs is: “As a prosecutor, it is critical to educate yourself
on trauma. I dedicated my professional life to being a champion for victims, but I
became a better prosecutor when I learned about the neuroscience of trauma and its
impact on our victims. Prosecution provides an extraordinary opportunity to make our
corner of the judicial system better. Few have that opportunity. Use that privilege while
you can. Thank you for all the hard work you are doing and will continue to do.”
