Poor George Brown can’t get a break. He’s the idiot who, as a supervisor for Miami-Dade County’s public works department, “was convicted of taking $13,000 worth of household appliances as a bribe” from a county vendor “to ensure the department purchased the supplier’s lighting products.”
Household appliances? Really, George? You couldn’t get more creative than that?
Like, um, bank robbery, maybe?
Add George “I’m A Schmuck” Brown’s name to the long list of corrupt public officials who “use their influence” to line their pockets.
Just like former North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre, who “used his influence” to use the city’s soccer field for “free,” at a taxpayer cost of over $29,000.00.
Just like North Miami Beach EX-Mayor/FELONY defendant Myron Rosner, who “used his influence” to get “free” advertising from a city vendor, to the tune of over $20,000.00.
Just like current North Miami Councilwoman Marie Steril, who “used her influence” to obtain subsidized mortgage financing for her mother, at a taxpayer cost of over $154,000.00, and more recently to obtain “free upgrades” for the house worth approximately $8,000.00.
All four public officials “used their influence” to get free stuff.
The only difference is that George Brown is going to jail for his crimes.
Andre only got slapped with a fine of $7,316.42 by the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public DIS-Trust.
Myron’s case is still pending, but odds are he’ll also be given a token fine and sent on his way.
Marie is only being held accountable by the COE for “seeking preferential treatment for her mother” to the tune of eight thousand bucks. She’ll probably skate with just paying costs so the Commission can have “free” lunch for a month, while dear old mom gets to keep the “upgrades.”
Poor George the Schmuck will serve 30 months in prison AND will have to repay the lousy $13,000.00. (No mention of the status of the household appliances he acquired.) According to a press release issued by the US Attorney’s Office, on May 13, 2014 George Brown will surrender himself to “the United States Bureau of Prisons.”
He should have hired Ben Kuehne.
Just saying.
Speaking of desperados, in case anyone besides me still gives a damn about the Three Racketeers, here’s an update on the CRIMINAL trials of North Miami’s Faustin Denis, Jr. and his two partners-in-crime, Dante Edward Starks and Terence Kenneth Pinder.
The never ending trial of Faustin Denis, Jr. (Case No. F08019352B), which began with his arrest for FELONY Racketeering and Organized Fraud, and violations of County Ordinances for Conflict of Interest/Soliciting a Gift charges on November 25, 2009 appears to have come to an end with a Finding of Guilt and Order of Withholding Adjudication/Special Conditions entered on February 11, 2014. As I reported on December 16, 2013, he pled guilty to the minor Conflict of Interest charges, was rewarded with probation, and “ordered to pay restitution to the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust, the Miami-Dade Police Department and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in the amounts of $10,000.00, $10,000.00 and $5,000.00, respectively.”
I appears that Faustin Denis, Jr.’s FELONY racketeering troubles aren’t over yet, though. According to the docket, on March 14th and 19th, Assistant State Attorneys Breezye Telfair and Miesha Darrough, respectively, were assigned as trial prosecutors. Since there doesn’t appear to be an Order issued by the Court on Faustin’s FELONY charges, I will assume that his trial for violating federal laws is still in progress. I will keep you posted.
As for Dante Edward Starks, his 2007 arrest for FELONY unlawful compensation and county conflict of interest violations (Case No. F07025152A) ended on February 3, 2014 with two years of supervised probation and a bunch of fines. His trial stemming from an arrest in November of 2009 for FELONY racketeering (Case No. F08019352C) appears to be still on with the appointment of Assistant State Attorneys Breezye Telfair and Miesha Darrough as trial prosecutors.
For his unlawful compensation/conflict of interest violations (Case No. F07025152B) Terence Kenneth Pinder also got slapped with two years of supervised probation and cost reimbursement payment plans of $80.00 per month over 27 months, for a total of $1,640.00. Like his cohort, Dante, Pinder’s FELONY racketeering trial (Case No. F08019352D) also appears to still be ongoing, and will also be prosecuted by the tag team of Telfair and Darrough.
As a follow-up to the Treasure Coast Bank Robberies, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Wilfredo A. Ferrer, issued a press release announcing that a Sixth Defendant Pleads Guilty In Plot To Rob Florida PNC Banks At Gunpoint.
As I already reported in Spotlight on Wilfredo A. Ferrer, The Criminal Whisperer, three people have already been sentenced for this crime. Desilien was originally set to stand trial for his crimes on May 19, 2014 along with two of his cohorts, Paul Edward Moore and Anthony Isaac Johnson. Moore and Johnson are still scheduled to face U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez.
Joe JR Desilien, however, broke down and copped a guilty plea when Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger made him her bitch.
You go, girlfriend!
The bank robber faces a mandatory seven years in prison and up to $250,000.00 in fines for using a gun to commit a crime. He also faces up to 20 years in prison and as much as a $250,000.00 fine for charges relating to the robbery itself.
In the final analysis, under State Attorney Katherine Fernandez’ watch, Miami-Dade County dirty public officials and their special friends can usually escape jail time and exorbitant fines regardless of how much taxpayer (or vendor) money they pilfer. Especially if they can afford the price tag for Ben Kuehne’s expertise in trial delay.
Politically unconnected peons like George Brown end up facing federal charges for much lesser amounts and earn themselves a stint in the hoosegow. In Poor George’s case, he made the mistake of “accepting bribes in connection with programs receiving federal funds.” As such, he got the attention of the U.S. Attorney’s office.
All for a rotten $13,000.00 worth of household appliances.
For his troubles and stupidity, he’ll serve his 30 months, pay his fine, and probably never get a government job again.
The dumb schmuck simply didn’t think big enough.
The moral of the story is that if you’re gonna commit a federal crime, at least rob a bank.
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
We live in a society where the majority of citizens do not hold public officials accountable for their actions. How does someone who steals $13k get a similar sentence as Mayor Manny Marono of Sweetwater who was caught by the Feds in a bribery scheme and has stolen hundreds of thousands? What entity is in place to watch the political connections of our State Attorney and prevent her from utilizing her office as her personal fiefdom and political hall? If we are to teach our children to be fair and honest, how do we explain to them that the office in place to uphold justice is rotten to the core? Blogs such as this one are the only means available for citizens to vent their frustration. Expect no support from The Miami Herald, for most of their columnists are compromised as well.
Jose, thanks for understanding my point. Brown was low on the political totem pole, so he was fair game. What I really don’t understand is why the Three Racketeers are being prosecuted by Rundle’s office instead of the US Attorney’s Office. Isn’t racketeering/RICO a federal crime? Marie Steril’s scam involved federal funding from HUD. Shouldn’t that also be investigated by Ferrer’s office?
KFR is nothing but a political animal who will do whatever it takes to get re-elected. ‘Nuff said about that.
As for the Miami Herald … well, just see any column by Random Pixels for an explanation.
Frustration doesn’t even begin to describe the feelings of the paltry few people who do care about fraud and corruption. Sadly, there are not enough of us to make a real difference. The crooked politicians know this and take full advantage of public apathy.
it also tells that law enforcement chose to turn the corrupted corporation (which could very well be involved in greater levels of organized crime) in to an informant rather than an example of why private companies in the county should not bribe politicians for contracts.
They send a clear message that it’s only the government flacks who need to make sure they grease the right knobs before they have their own done. Rich schmucks with some kind of wholesale retail distribution and an interest in guaranteed government money? See KFR and the folks managing Miami-Dade County! They’ll take your bribes, and protect you from public or legal scrutiny.
Steph, the State Attorney’s Office can also charge state RICO statutes. It is not commonly done because of the complexity of the crime and the fact that RICO investigations tend to take a long time to fruition. In order to charge RICO you need dedicated and experienced Assistant State Attorneys and investigators. Also, the move by county and municipal politicians to place officers in patrol tasks has destroyed the specialized units that once pursued RICO charges. Hope that sheds a light. Keep up the good work.
It sure does. Thanks for the explanation. Obviously, Rundle’s office is either ill equipped or disinterested in prosecuting RICO investigations. I don’t know how good those two Assistant Attorneys are, but they seem to be on every case I’ve researched. Telfair was also Myron’s prosecutor. I think she was recently replaced, but I see her name everywhere.