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Former Hialeah Police Chief Arrested |
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| State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge John Vecchio held a press conference to announce the arrest of former Hialeah Police Department Chief Sergio Velazquez for thefts that allegedly occurred during his tenure. |
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| “When any serving police officer violates the law, he betrays the community that he has sworn to serve,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “But when a police chief is alleged to have stolen from the city and department he has led, this unique betrayal deeply damages the very soul of the community. I congratulate the FDLE agents and analysts, who are working together with my Public Corruption prosecutors on this complex investigation, have worked to bring this matter before our criminal courts.” |
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| During Sergio Velazquez’s tenure, his private bank accounts allegedly received large deposits. Each of these deposits was less than $10,000 to avoid currency reporting requirements; legally, this is known as structured transactions and is commonly used as a money laundering tactic. Between May 27, 2021, and October 29, 2021, Velazquez made over seventy (70) structured cash deposits totaling $159,713.00. |
| “With these criminal charges, we are alleging that Sergio Velazquez betrayed everything and everyone he pledged to honor when he took his oath upon becoming Hialeah’s Chief of Police. He betrayed the people of Hialeah, and he betrayed every Hialeah Police Officers who potentially put their lives on the line each day to keep Hialeah safe,” stated Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “Our community will not stand for this type of corruption.” |
City of Miami Police Officer Arrestedfor Issuing False Traffic Citations |
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| State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was honored to be a keynote speaker at the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) Miami Power Path Panel Event held at the Four Seasons in Brickell, where she addressed hotel and restaurant owners on critical local, state, and federal issues impacting the hospitality sector. |
| In her remarks, the State Attorney focused on Human Trafficking, one of the most pressing concerns facing the industry and our community. The State Attorney stated, “All of us here are united in the fight against Human Trafficking. Our partnerships show we recognize the weaknesses of trying to win this fight alone. We, in law enforcement, know that we need your help and your eyes in this community. By providing training to key individuals in industries that regularly interact with our tourists, law enforcement can gain valuable insights into daily interactions, learning to recognize subtle signs that something might be amiss, which could otherwise go unnoticed.” |
| “Our region is a world-class destination, welcoming millions of visitors each year. Miami plays host to some of the largest sporting, music, art, and fashion events in the world. With the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, our hospitality industry, especially hotels and restaurants, is uniquely positioned to play a proactive role in preventing Human Trafficking before it happens. I firmly believe that our efforts in combating Human Trafficking would not be successful without you. Thank you for standing united with law enforcement to remove these predators from our community,” stated State Attorney Fernandez Rundle. |
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| Do The Right Thing of Miami is an organization dedicated to recognizing and rewarding Miami youths for their exemplary behavior, achievements, and good deeds. Through a unique partnership with the Miami Police Department, other law enforcement agencies, and the school system, the organization promotes positive decision-making and community engagement among our youths. |
| During the ceremony, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle recognized the students who were honored during the 2024-2025 Academic School year and how programs like this play a critical role in prevention and early intervention, helping guide youth away from negative influences. |
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| Unfortunately, many predators prey on older individuals by exploiting physical or cognitive vulnerabilities that may come with age. This exploitation can cause financial harm and significantly impact the overall well-being of victims, making financial recovery especially challenging. |
| Our office remains committed to advocating for our elderly community and providing them with the resources and protection they need. Throughout June, our Community Outreach Division participated in various events to distribute resources and raise awareness about elder abuse, financial scams, and the importance of protecting our most vulnerable residents. |
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| We look forward to bringing the “Second Chance” Seal or Expunge Event to Miami Dade College West Campus on July 23. Be sure to follow us for additional information. |
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| For many people, the summer months are a time to slow down, relax, and take vacations, but for SAO Finance Director Sharon Savoldy, it is the busiest time of year. As one fiscal year comes to an end and another begins, she and her staff are focused on making sure that every penny received through legislative budget and grants is accounted for. Those who know Sharon know how quiet and humble she is. That is why we are honored to feature her as our Profile in Passion and acknowledge her incredible experience and dedication to keeping the community safe. |
| Sharon was born in Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. As a little girl, growing up alongside her sister, she wanted to be a social worker because she wanted to help people. When she was eight years old, her father, who had trained in South Florida as a marine in World War II, came home one winter and said to her mother, “We are moving to Miami.” The cold New England winters were no match for the warm South Florida ones. |
| She graduated from Palmetto Senior High, and that is when a friend of her mother, who was a part-time bookkeeper for the Miccosukee Tribe, said they were looking for a full-time bookkeeper and that Sharon should apply. |
| In 1971, Sharon was hired as a bookkeeper, and her mom’s friend taught her while on the job. She learned and mastered trial balance bookkeeping duties, including supervision of accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll; prepared and filed all quarterly and annual tax returns; performed personnel functions by interviewing and screening prospective employees; established banking relationships and arranged for interim and construction financing. |
| Then three years later, she was promoted to Budget Coordinator for the tribe and was responsible for all financial reporting, negotiating and scheduling investments, and cash flow management. Sharon also prepared an application for and received 501(c)3 status from the IRS; designed cost, allocation plan for recovery of overhead and centralized costs; assisted in designing a computerized accounting system. |
| Sharon’s professionalism and work ethic earned the respect of all those who worked with her and of the then-Chairman of the Miccosukee Tribe, William “Buffalo” Tiger. In 1980, she was promoted to Director of Financial Services. She had direct and overall responsibility for all accounting functions, cost analysis, and financial reporting; prepared and analyzed all budgets. Sharon was also the chief negotiator of multi-purpose contracts for community and economic-related activities, including leases, agreements, and rights-of-way for major economic development and projects. She performed internal auditing and compliance review and interfaced internally and externally to detect trends and requirements that would affect existing and future financial plans. |
| As if she didn’t have a lot to handle at work, somewhere along the way, Sharon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Barry University. |
| In 1988, Sharon left the Miccosukees and became a financial management consultant for a firm that handled Indian contracts with the federal government. She not only assisted clients in the areas of financial planning, budgeting, management, systems development, contract negotiation, compliance, implementation, and follow-up. Sharon also interpreted and defined the scope and impact of regulatory changes to clients while proposing action plans. When needed, she provided crisis management relevant to the client's financial condition and needs. |
| Then her father passed away, leaving her and her sister to run a hotel he owned. “We ran the hotel for about a year, but it wasn’t for me. We sold it a year later,” Sharon explains. |
| In February of 1991, her future took an unexpected turn that would forever change her life. “I answered an ad in the newspaper. The State Attorney’s Office was looking for a grant manager position, and I had tons of experience. I applied and got the job.” |
| When Sharon joined the SAO, the Child Support Program was moving from under the Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services (HRS) to the Department of Revenue (DOR). Sharon was essential in the transition from one federal agency to another. |
| After a few years, she was promoted to Assistant Fiscal Director and worked even more closely with Gail Berg, who hired her originally. In May 2000, Gail decided to take a step back and work part-time time and Sharon was promoted to Fiscal Director |
| “I have such respect for State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, and I believe that it is mutual. I respect and trust her vision and judgement. She lets me do what is needed to try to find solutions. I do the research and figure out how to best fund the programs and initiatives that she wants to implement. This is my small contribution to help keep the community safe.” |
| “Since she came to the SAO, Finance Director Sharon Savoldy has blossomed like a rare flower showing itself after an unusual desert rain. To say that Sharon is extraordinary is to understate her calm temperament, her skills, and her knowledge. We are so lucky to have her here with us, keeping us all on track,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. |
| All of her previous experience gave her an incredible foundation for dealing with the complex and extensive fiscal duties and responsibilities of the fourth-largest prosecutorial agency in the United States. |
| “It’s a multifaceted job. There is always a lot going on at the same time. Our most difficult challenge is determining if there is funding available for what is needed. We have grants and contracts that each have their parameters and guidelines for how the monies can be spent and for what purpose. We have to make sure that our expenditures follow federal, county, and state guidelines and internal policies.” |
| Fiscal also oversees everything from federal grants to travel coordination for trials for victims/witnesses that may no longer be in our community, to office supplies and equipment. “We are responsible for using good judgment on how money and resources should be spent. |
| “The best thing about this job is that it is like a big puzzle, and you are trying to fit all the pieces together. I may be calm on the outside, but not always on the inside. It is sometimes a challenge, but we find a way to accomplish what is needed to get the job done. |
| Sharon credits her team for the success of the unit. The department has 12 staff members to handle an agency of over 1200 employees. “I rely on others’ opinion on my team and their thought process. We are a service unit that helps the rest of the office accomplish what they need to get their work done.” |
| “There is no doubt that the State Attorney’s Office could not function without the superb team that makes up our Fiscal Division. After all, without our paychecks, without our funding, this office could not function. Few recognize that they are the heart whose beating keeps this institution alive,” said State Attorney Fernandez Rundle. |
| When asked if she is thinking of retiring, Sharon laughs, “I was planning to retire four years ago! I will retire someday.” |
| In her free time, Sharon likes to read, do ceramics and pottery, and enjoy time outdoors, especially on the lake she lives on. |
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| Congratulations to ASAs Carolina Sanchez and Conor Soper for securing a guilty verdict of Failure by a Sexual Offender to Comply with Registration Requirements. The Defendant is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison as a Habitual Offender. He is already serving 15 years in state prison as a Violent Career Criminal for Aggravated Stalking. |
| On September 28, 2022, the Defendant purchased a 2007 Lincoln Town Car in his name and failed to report this vehicle to the Sheriff’s Office. As a sexual offender, the Defendant was required to report any changes in vehicle ownership to the Sheriff’s Office within 48 hours. The Defendant was arrested on April 13, 2023, for failing to register this vehicle as required. Under the law, this arrest put the Defendant on actual notice that he had a duty to register this vehicle and that his subsequent failure to register the vehicle would lead to an additional criminal charge. Despite his April arrest and interaction with the Sheriff’s Office, the Defendant still did not report this vehicle to the Sheriff’s Office when he reported for his regular registration meeting on August 28, 2023. Thus, the Defendant was arrested again on January 24, 2024, for failing to register this vehicle after he had been put on notice. |
| This case was challenging mainly due to the Defendant’s behavior. During his prior trial and throughout this trial, the Defendant was unruly and prone to outbursts causing the judge to remove him from the courtroom many times. Outside the presence of the jury, the Defendant ran at ASA Sanchez and threatened to break her neck. Later, the Defendant attempted to throw a chair at the judge. In front of the jury, he tried to garner sympathy by claiming he was being “railroaded” by the State and that the judge was trying to give him life in prison. |
| Despite the Defendant’s behavior, the ASAs introduced documents from the DHSMV to show that the vehicle was purchased by the Defendant and titled to him. Additionally, the ASAs presented documents from FDLE showing the Defendant’s registrations with the Sheriff’s Office from before and after his April arrest, showing he never reported the change in vehicle ownership. Since he did not stipulate to being a sexual offender, the ASAs introduced his prior conviction for Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Minor 12-16. Lastly, the ASAs introduced body-worn camera footage from his arrest on January 24, 2024, showing him getting out of the driver’s seat of the 2007 Lincoln Town Car. |
| After the State rested its case, the Defendant chose to take the stand, where he gave contradictory testimony. He initially claimed he knew nothing about the 2007 Lincoln Town Car, then he said the vehicle belonged to an unnamed friend or coworker, and finally, he landed on being a victim of identity fraud because his signature was not on the DHSMV paperwork. The Defendant also claimed that the Sheriff’s deputies he met with never advised him that he had to report any change in vehicle ownership and that he had even mentioned the vehicle to a “Hispanic guy” at the Sheriff’s Office. Ultimately, the jury found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| The ASAs would like to thank Sexual Battery Unit Chief Natalie Snyder, Felony Division Chiefs Cristina Diamond and Maritza Clop-Liriano, ASA Natalie Mendez, ASA Jared Lorenz, Deputy Chief Assistant Nilo Cuervo, Career Criminal Unit Chief Patty Mulholland, and Chief Assistant Kathleen Hoague for their advice and assistance. The ASAs would also like to thank Rene Ferrer from the Litigation Support team for his help with blowing up last-minute exhibits and making sure we had an ELMO for trial, and Division Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez and Victim Witness Specialist Tessa Lieber for their help in coordinating witnesses for trial. |
| Congratulations to Career Criminal Unit ASA Julianne Ruiz-Necuze and ASA Kristen Rodriguez for securing a guilty verdict of one count of Armed Robbery with a Firearm and one count of Battery on an Elderly Person. The Defendant qualifies as a Habitual Offender and faces the 10-year firearm minimum mandatory penalty. The sentencing is set for August. |
| The Defendant and his Co-Defendant attacked a 65-year-old Victim in her apartment complex parking lot while she was taking things out of her car. She was surprised by the Defendant as he approached her car door, pointed a firearm in her face, and tried to yank her three gold chains off her neck. When he could not get them all off, the Victim testified that the other Co-Defendant came from behind and pushed her to the ground, held her hair back, and yanked the chains off the back of her neck while she lay on the parking lot concrete. The entire attack was only 15 seconds long. |
| Understandably, the Victim gave a very general description of the two co-defendants. A surveillance camera from across the street recorded the attack, but the camera was too far away to be of any help in identifying the robbers. Therefore, there were no suspects initially. A few days later, the Victim checked her Ring camera footage and realized that the two men who attacked her had walked past her Ring camera a minute before. By piecing together this footage with a neighbor’s Ring camera footage and in combination with the blurry camera footage that only showed the parking lot attack, the State was able to show the jury that the Defendant was one of the attackers beyond a reasonable doubt. The now 67-year-old Victim arrived at the courthouse at 7 a.m. and testified for a total of five hours, including over three hours of cross-examination. |
| This verdict could not have been possible without the help of Felony Division Chief Jennifer Garcia, Career Criminal Assistant Chief Kioceaia Stenson, ASA Santiago Aroca, Career Criminal Chief Patty Mulholland, and Chief Assistant Deisy Hernandez with trial preparation, strategy, and jury instructions. The ASAs would also like to thank Litigation Support Angel Del Castillo for creating the amazing timeline video that left no doubt in the jury’s mind. Last, but never least, thanks to the wonderful Career Criminal support staff members, Secretaries Barbara Potts and Angie Davila, and Victim Witness Specialist Karina Tamayo, for all their assistance. |
| The ASAs would like to thank Sexual Battery Unit Chief Natalie Snyder, Felony Division Chiefs Cristina Diamond and Maritza Clop-Liriano, ASA Natalie Mendez, ASA Jared Lorenz, Deputy Chief Assistant Nilo Cuervo, Career Criminal Unit Chief Patty Mulholland, and Chief Assistant Kathleen Hoague for their advice and assistance. The ASAs would also like to thank Rene Ferrer from the Litigation Support team for his help with blowing up last-minute exhibits and making sure we had an ELMO for trial, and Division Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez and Victim Witness Specialist Tessa Lieber for their help in coordinating witnesses for trial. |
| Congratulations to ASAs Destini Fernandez and Jason Perez for securing a guilty verdict of one count of Shooting a Deadly Missile. The Defendant faces a maximum of 15 years in state prison. |
| In the early morning hours of August 10, 2024, the Defendant and the Victim got into a fight. Afterwards, the Defendant threatened to shoot the Victim. Later, she changed her clothes and drove to a spot near the Victim’s home. Then she walked to the Victim’s home while concealing herself under a blanket. The Defendant fired a single round at the second story of the Victim’s home, nearly hitting the upstairs window of the bedroom where the Victim’s children were sleeping. In defense of herself and her family, the Victim shot back at the Defendant. An unknown male who had accompanied the Defendant then fired at least 13 shots at the Victim’s home before he and the Defendant fled the scene. |
| Although the Defendant admitted to driving in the area, the defense argued that she never got out of her car or fired a gun. They also argued that the police did a poor investigation. This case was very challenging for several reasons. Neighbors who had information were unwilling to cooperate and testify at trial. Although there was video footage that showed the Defendant walking towards the Victim’s home, the shooting itself was not captured on video or visually witnessed by any of the State’s witnesses. Also, the Defendant could not be identified from the video alone because she was concealing herself under a blanket. |
| Despite these challenges, the State was able to present strong circumstantial evidence, audio and video recordings, and a variety of inconsistent statements from the Defendant. Two witnesses testified that they recognized the Defendant’s face when she was standing outside the Victim’s home seconds before the shooting. Although it was still dark in the early morning, the State pointed to the abundance of light from a variety of sources that enabled these witnesses to see the Defendant’s face. Also, a single shot could be heard on a video recording before the Victim shot back in self-defense. The Defendant’s handgun, which was later found in her purse during the execution of a search warrant, had a single round missing from its 7-round magazine. The jury found the Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| The ASAs would like to thank Felony Division Chiefs Cristina Diamond and Rachel Morales-Gellis and ASA Vianca Picart for their assistance with trial strategy and legal research. They would also like to give special thanks to Victim/Witness Coordinator Emily Perdomo for helping to coordinate the appearance of witnesses for trial. |
| Congratulations to Sexual Battery Unit (SBU) ASAs Marie Koth and Lily Wisset for securing a guilty verdict of two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation on a Child Under 12, two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Battery, one count of Lewd or Lascivious Molestation on a Child 12-16, one count of Lewd or Lascivious Exhibition on a Child Under 16, and one count of Sexual Battery on a Victim 12-17. |
| The case involved two Victims. The first Victim had just come to Miami from Honduras when her mother met and began a romantic relationship with the Defendant. The Defendant quickly took advantage of the mother’s vulnerability, making her reliant on him. He also began grooming the Victim, forcing her to have a close relationship with him and to see him as a “father-figure.” The Victim, her mother, and the Defendant shared a one-bedroom apartment, which gave the Defendant constant access to the Victim. Three years after the Victim moved to Miami, the Defendant began inappropriately touching the Victim. The Defendant began regularly spending time in the Victim’s bed under the guise of watching movies together, convincing the Victim’s mother that this was normal. Eventually, the Defendant’s actions escalated to sexually assaulting the Victim. He did this regularly when the Victim’s mother went to work or was out of the house. This abuse continued for four years. |
| While this was going on, the Victim’s cousin from Honduras moved into the home. The Defendant, seeing an opportunity to take advantage of a young girl, began to inappropriately touch the cousin as well. The sexual abuse of this second Victim also escalated to intercourse and continued for two years. Neither of the Victims knew that the other was being sexually abused by the Defendant. |
| In February 2022, the Defendant and the first Victim’s mother separated, and he moved to Cuba. However, after a few months, he decided he wanted to return to Miami and asked the Victim’s mother for assistance with a flight. One night, while watching a television show together with a storyline that touched on sexual abuse, the first Victim felt ready to disclose to her mother and cousin that the Defendant had been sexually abusing her and that she was afraid that he would return to Miami. Hearing this, the second Victim disclosed how he had been abusing her too. The next morning, they went to the police station together to file a report. |
| During the trial, the defense attacked the credibility of the first Victim’s mother by pointing out that she had applied for a U-Visa, argued she had coached the girls to lie for immigration benefits, and alleged that she was angry with the Defendant for cheating on her. However, the mother explained she did not know about the option of a U-Visa until after she had reported the abuse to the police. Her sincerity was compelling on the witness stand. The defense also attacked the reliability of both victims’ memories by pointing out differences between their initial disclosures and their later statements, as they have remembered more of the abuse with time. Both Victims were vigorously cross-examined for over two hours, but they each held their own despite the intense emotions brought on by counsel’s aggressive questioning and by facing the Defendant in person for the first time in years. |
| The ASAs would like to give a special thank you to Special Victims Unit Detective Frances Flores with the City of Miami Police Department for her crucial contribution to the trial victory. Her testimony about the investigation of delayed disclosures, what evidence would or would not have evidentiary value, and her knowledge of how sensitive victims respond to trauma and how they are notified of the U-Visa application process left the defense without the ability to argue that there should have been a more thorough investigation and poked holes in their immigration arguments. Her knowledge of the case and preparation were clear to the jury, preventing a debate in deliberations about whether this was a “testimony-only” case. After just a 40-minute deliberation, the jury found the Defendant guilty of all counts beyond a reasonable doubt. |
| The ASAs would also like to thank SBU Division Chief Natalie Snyder for her invaluable advice, Victim/Witness Coordinator Smirne Syndic for coordinating the witnesses and supporting the victim and family, and SBU secretaries Valerie Ford and Charlotte Haslem for assisting with trial preparations. The ASAs would also like to extend a special thank you to the Guardian Ad Litem, Katrina Valiente, for providing emotional support for the first Victim during her lengthy testimony. |
| In December of 2014, the Defendant, a registered nurse, became the foster mother to four young siblings: a two-month-old boy and three girls aged 8, 3, and 2. The children had been removed from their biological mother’s care by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) because of substance abuse and domestic violence. They remained in the Defendant’s care, and she adopted them in February of 2017. Prior to the adoption, DCF had regular visits to the house and ensured that the children were enrolled in school and taken to the doctor. The Defendant was emotionally and physically abusive, but initially, this consisted of forcing the children to stand in the sun in a crucifixion pose for hours at a time. After their adoption, she began homeschooling the children and stopped taking them for checkups. Following their move to an apartment so her house could be used as an assisted living facility for special needs children, the Defendant began chaining the children when she left the house, whipping them with a belt, hitting them with a spoon, and restricting their food. When they were fed, a typical meal for the girls was one scoop of cornmeal and black beans or legumes. Sometimes, they would be made to eat this for every meal for weeks on end. |
| The eldest adopted child recounted the abuse in detail at trial. During one incident, the Defendant woke her up in the middle of the night and forced her to watch as she burned her sisters’ hands on the stove and beat their legs with a belt because the two girls had gone to the kitchen and taken white bread that was purchased solely for the Defendant’s special needs son. The eldest daughter recounted how her sisters screamed and cried and desperately promised never to do it again. The eldest sister had to feed them while their bandaged hands healed. The girls’ hands were permanently disfigured because the Defendant never sought proper medical care. |
| She also told the jury how the Defendant duct taped the middle sister to the back of a counter-high chair; taped the girls’ eyes shut and made them stand in front her room where she could see them while she worked; forced them to stand for extended periods until they collapsed; made the little girls to sleep on the floor for weeks at time as punishment for wetting the bed; and forced them to eat their little brother’s feces and drink urine as a method of punishment. The Defendant favored the male children in her home, so the girls’ little brother was never abused like his sisters |
| The eldest daughter first noticed the middle sister, was exhibiting serious signs of illness sometime in the summer of 2018, after the Defendant made her drink bleach. When the sister began to exhibit flu-like symptoms—coughing, wheezing, fainting, hearing loss, trouble standing, trouble walking, and incontinence— the Defendant did not seek medical care. Even as her symptoms worsened into pneumonia and sepsis, medical care was never sought. The sister died on November 3, 2018. At the time of the seven-year-old’s death, all three sisters were determined to be malnourished by the Child Protection Team. During the autopsy, the signs of physical abuse on her body included marks on her forehead, arms, torso, back, and legs; burns on her hands and fingers; and serious, gaping wounds on the top part of both her hands and knees. |
| The main issue in this case was that the original medical examiner on the case initially determined that the Victim’s death was natural and then changed the cause of death to “pending.” This caused the homicide investigation to be put on hold while the Medical Examiner’s Office reviewed the case for over a year. On November 26, 2019, the original medical examiner and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Emma Lew determined the cause of death to be disseminated intravascular coagulopathy due to sepsis, bilateral pneumonia, ascending pyelonephritis, and untreated diabetes mellitus, with a contributory cause of chronic physical and emotional abuse and classified the manner of death as a homicide. |
| This case was made possible by the hard work of Dr. Emma Lew, by the attorneys for DCF who helped track down the surviving Victim’s case worker and counselors and ensured the case was investigated by the police, so the surviving children were not placed back in the Defendant’s care; and by the homicide team led by Detective Raphael and Sergeant Doug McCoy. Since Detective Raphael is now retired, Sergeant McCoy helped bring the case to the Grand Jury and worked tirelessly preparing for and locating witnesses for trial. |
| The ASAs would especially like to thank Victim Witness Specialist Laura Gregoire for working miracles, tracking down and convincing a crucial, difficult witness to cooperate, acting as a translator, and sitting with a witness for four hours before she testified to keep her morale up. Special thanks also to Victim Witness Specialist Maria Diaz, and Victim Advocates Kelly Usher-Villazan, Marilyn Fiallos, Isis Ferreiro, and Victims Services Administrator Sandra Lawrence for providing support for the surviving Victim throughout the trial preparation and during the trial. Thanks also to our wonderful transportation unit for dealing with language barriers and many changing pickup times and locations to ensure our witnesses were in court. Thanks also to the Unit III support staff, without whom we would not have been able to get this case to trial – specifically, Lead Worker Marc Dugue, Supervisor Cary Jose, Clerk Peter Rivera, and Trial Coordinator Gabriela Palacios. |
| Congratulations to ASA Andres Perez and ASA Jared Octala for securing a conviction of Possession of a Controlled Substance |
| On February 12, 2025, a City of Miami Police Officer was conducting surveillance at a known hot spot for narcotics sales in the Overtown area. While hiding behind a fence in a construction zone, the officer observed the Defendant engage in a hand-to-hand transaction with an unknown male. The unknown male provided the Defendant with U.S. currency. In exchange, the Defendant retrieved suspected narcotics out of a “Hot Cheetos” bag and delivered them to the unknown male. The Defendant then placed the Hot Cheetos bag on a trash pile and walked away. None of this was depicted on the body-worn camera. |
| Having seen enough, the Officer walked over to the trash pile, retrieved the Hot Cheetos bag, and confirmed the presence of five baggies containing suspected narcotics inside. The officer placed the Defendant under arrest and seized $442.80. Later, lab testing revealed the presence of fentanyl and xylazine in the baggies. The State charged the Defendant with selling a controlled substance. The court suppressed all of Defendant’s statements, and there was no body-worn camera footage of the drug sale, so the State’s case depended on the officer’s testimony alone. Ultimately, the jury found the Defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the lesser-included offense of Possession of a Controlled Substance. |
| The ASAs are grateful to the Unit IV support staff for their efforts. Special thanks to ASA John Smerznak for providing last-minute, crucial support for the trial team before deliberations began |
| Congratulations to ASAs Kyle March and Jonathan Sardina for securing a guilty verdict of one count of Trafficking in Fentanyl over 28 grams and one count of Resisting an Officer Without Violence. |
| The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office learned from a confidential informant that the Defendant was selling narcotics at a homeless encampment. Officers set up surveillance and observed him make a hand-to-hand transaction. When they approached to conduct a tactical takedown, the Defendant immediately fled and tried to hide in the rear, tented area of the encampment. |
| After officers took him into custody, they found a wad of cash in his back pocket totaling $1,007 in mostly $1 bills. A black, cooler bag was located approximately five feet from where the Defendant conducted the hand-to-hand transaction. Inside the bag were numerous Ziplock bags containing hundreds of grams of suspected narcotics. One of those bags contained 776 fentanyl laced pills weighing 84 grams. Perhaps the strongest piece of evidence for the State was a black Samsung smartphone located inside the cooler bag. The phone had a Progressive insurance card bearing the Defendant’s name for a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe. The keys for that Chevy Tahoe were located right next to the cooler bag, and the Tahoe itself was parked only 10 feet away from the bag. The State used this circumstantial evidence to prove constructive possession of the bag containing the fentanyl. |
| The Defendant testified and confirmed that the phone was his. However, he denied putting his phone in the bag and stated a friend was holding it for him. When confronted about how the bag came to be there, the Defendant stated, “It just appeared, I guess”. The defense claimed the cash found on his person was from his lawn care business and argued in their closing argument that the case should have been dismissed. Instead, the jury found the Defendant guilty of Trafficking in Fentanyl over 28 grams beyond a reasonable doubt. He faces a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence. |
| The ASAs would like to thank the SAO Narcotics Unit for helping with templates and providing advice. They would also like to thank their support staff, especially Litigation Support and Victim/ Witness Coordinator Nicole Lopez, for their help during the trial. |
| The City of Miami Traffic Homicide Unit responded to a crash that happened on October 30th, 2022, around 3:13 AM. The Victim was pronounced dead at the scene. |
| Fortunately, a witness walking home during the crash saw the incident and called 911. Vehicle debris from a Nissan Pathfinder was found over a block from the scene. Detectives used the make and model details to canvass the area over the next few days, locating and tracking the vehicle to an apartment complex just minutes away. They obtained video footage showing the vehicle entering the parking garage of the Defendant’s apartment and spoke with the building’s manager and security to identify the owner. Based on this information, a wanted flyer was issued, and Opa-Locka Police found the car at a mechanic shop in their jurisdiction. The City of Miami contacted the mechanic, who reported that on the morning of the accident, the Defendant dropped off the car for repairs, stating he had hit a duck and a mailbox. |
| This was a challenging case. From the start, the State recognized the difficulties, especially the absence of a direct eyewitness who could identify the driver and issues with the video evidence, including incorrect timestamps. Despite these obstacles, the State remained dedicated and methodical, building a case that pointed directly to the Defendant’s guilt. They hired a cell site expert and relied heavily on the Defendant’s cell phone location data, which placed him at the scene during the critical time. The evidence included documents proving he owned the phone, insurance for the vehicle, lease agreements, physical damage to the car, his subsequent actions, and attempts to hide evidence. These elements created a strong case that the jury found credible and convincing, despite the defense’s efforts to distract the jury. |
| he ASA’s would like to thank Division Chiefs Cristina Diamond and Rachel Morales-Gellis, Senior Trial Counsel and Chief of the Traffic Homicide Unit Laura Adams, for their valuable advice, Victim Advocates Isis Ferreiro and Marilyn Fiallos for supporting the next of kin throughout the trial, and all the Unit III support staff who handled last-minute requests to ensure the trial proceeded smoothly. |
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