Former Florida Sen. Frank Artiles, an ex-Marine who more recently has shaped political campaigns as a lobbyist and consultant, was found guilty Monday of campaign finance and voter registration violations in a trial that showed the underbelly of Florida politics.

It took a Miami-Dade jury just over six hours to reach a unanimous verdict in a case built around political operatives and a “ghost candidate” who likely tipped a tight election. Sparked by a scheme to help Senate Republicans flip a seat in 2020, the two-week trial engrossed Florida’s political establishment from Miami to Tallahassee.

Artiles and his attorneys stood stoic as the verdict was read, their hands clasped in front of them, family members and friends standing along rows of benches behind. The former senator was fingerprinted but not handcuffed — his family surrounding him blocking the view — before being released by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Miguel M. de la O.

Artiles wouldn’t comment as the group made its way out of the courtroom. Defense attorney Frank Quintero thanked the jurors, then promised an appeal. As he addressed the media, Quintero said he found it helpful that jurors listed all the instances they considered excessive contributions from Artiles to Alexis Rodriguez, an independent candidate whose only purpose in the race was to hurt the Democratic incumbent.

“They were actually business transactions that he [Rodriguez] screwed Mr. Artiles for,” said Quintero. “It’s going to be a long fight. This fight is not over.”

Artiles, 51, married with two daughters, was found guilty of excessive campaign contributions, conspiracy to commit excessive contributions and falsely swearing an oath, all felonies that could carry five-year sentences. He was cleared of a fourth charge, aiding a false registration.

His convictions could land him in prison for as many as 15 years, though that long a term is unlikely.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle applauded the jury for understanding the case’s complexities and realizing that Artiles was the “mastermind” of the “ghost candidate scandal.”

“These felony convictions show that the jurors agreed that we can not tolerate the violation of our laws to gain a political advantage,” she said in a prepared statement.

Judge de la O is expected to sentence Artiles some time after Oct. 21.

READ MORE: Lobbyist said she heard Artiles brag about election win.

During the two-week trial, it was explained how a long-time Republican party operative reached out to Artiles for help in the 2020 race for the District 37 Senate seat, which at the time covered a large swath of Miami-Dade County from Miami Beach south and through Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay.

Lead prosecutor Tim VanderGiesen explained to jurors how the former state senator — after working out a contract agreement with the owner of a Gainesville-area Republican political research and marketing firm — engineered a plan to run and promote a machine parts salesman as a third-party candidate in the race in order to siphon votes from the Democratic front-runner.

The plan worked.

Ileana Garcia, a former Spanish radio host and founder of Latinas for Trump, defeated Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez by a mere 32 votes after a recount. VanderGiesen told jurors that Alexis Rodriguez — the ghost candidate running as an independent — was promised $50,000 by Artiles. In a race decided by less than three-dozen votes after a runoff, more than 6,000 residents voted for Alexis Rodriguez.

The payoffs came in different forms, prosecutors said. Besides four payments totaling $22,000 in cash, Alexis Rodriguez was given another $22,000 through tuition payments for his daughter, money alleged to be going to the purchase of a truck for Artiles’ daughter and reimbursements. In total, the state said Alexis Rodriguez collected $44,708.03 in cash and gifts.

Artiles was paid $90,000 to help win Miami races by Data Targeting founder Patrick Bainter, a top consultant for Florida’s Senate Republicans. Bainter placed another $100,000 in a political action committee associated with Artiles.

READ MORE: ‘Knock yourself out.’ Top Florida GOP operative blessed Artiles’ ‘ghost candidate’ pitch

SENATE SEAT UNRAVELED QUICKLY

Artiles served three terms in the Florida House before winning a Senate seat in 2016. His senate term unraveled quickly. He resigned less than a year after being elected and after using racial slurs and uttering profanities while talking to a group of Black elected leaders in Tallahassee.

Then, just over a year after Garcia’s unexpected 2020 victory, Artiles was charged with the four felonies. Alexis Rodriguez was charged with the same four felonies, but avoided conviction in exchange for his testimony against Artiles.

During closing arguments Monday morning, defense attorney Jose Quiñon told jurors the plot to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez began with the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, the main campaign vehicle for Florida’s Senate Republicans. The committee contacted Bainter, and Bainter, looking for information on the ground in Miami, reached out to some folks he knew in West Palm Beach. They recommended Artiles.

Aritles, who knew Alexis Rodriguez through a family member, promised him he would be coached and wouldn’t have to campaign.

Under Florida law, none of that is illegal. Directly giving a candidate more than $1,000, however, is.

And Monday, on the verdict form, jurors wrote out exactly which acts they believe Artiles committed that were illegal. They listed six instances when the lobbyist gave the candidate money or gifts totaling $26,812.92. Among the payments: $2,000 to cover the registration fee to become a candidate, $6,784.39 to cover tuition for the candidate’s daughter’s private high school, a $2,400 rent payment and $9,000 from Artiles’ brother-in-law.

During the trial, Alexis Rodriguez said the only reason he agreed to change his party affiliation and run in the race was because he was broke and just divorced. He told jurors he was ashamed and said the only reason he agreed to the plan was because he needed money.

Garcia, the unexpected victor, has always been controversial. She once said she believed people could outgrow being gay, but later apologized. She also authored a bill to spend $5 million on former President Donald Trump’s legal bills. The bill didn’t pass. Jose Javier Rodriguez now works as an assistant secretary for the Labor Department in Washington D.C.

Tesla remains one of the most popular routes to driving electric, with the automotive brand’s share of EV sales just below 50 percent in the second quarter, according to Cox Automotive. However, with prices around $40,000 for those wanting to purchase new, securing an auto loan is the right first step for most drivers.

Consider the available options for getting behind the wheel of a Tesla and whether in-house or third-party financing is best for your needs. 

Tesla in-house financing

Tesla offers its own financing through its online platform. Buyers can finance and arrange vehicle delivery all in one place. While this option is not available in all states, it can be a good option for shoppers who prefer convenience. 

• States that offer Tesla financing
  

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  AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA.

Tesla outlines a few basic steps for drivers who choose in-house financing: 

1. Submit an application: Once you have started your online order and designed your Tesla, you can prequalify for financing. This is done under the ‘Payment Method’ section of your account. Once you choose ‘Tesla’ as your financing option and provide how much you would like to borrow, you can submit your application.  
2. Receive confirmation: Following the application step, your credit will be reviewed and a decision will be made in the “Payment Method: section of your account. 
3. Accept offer: You can accept the offer within your account and a Tesla Advisor will connect to arrange for vehicle delivery. If you have not received approval, an advisor will contact you within one business day. 

Tesla does not charge any prepayment penalties or fees. It also allows borrowers to choose a preferred monthly payment in the application process. It’s smart to calculate how much you can afford ahead of applying with an auto loan calculator. 

However, do not focus solely on the monthly payment. Remember that a longer loan term will result in a smaller payment but more spent over the course of the loan. More than that, every extra dollar that goes toward interest over a longer period of time is a dollar not going into an emergency fund or an investment portfolio. If you are worried about overextending your budget and having less available for your savings, consider a shorter-term or a less expensive vehicle. 

Third-party Tesla financing 

If you live in one of Tesla’s serviced states, in-house financing can be a strong option. However, to get the best auto loan rate, it is smart to compare auto loan rates with other lenders.

If you are opting for a third-party auto loan, applying with a lender is necessary before you can purchase through Tesla.

1. Secure loan approval: Before your vehicle can be delivered, you must apply for and secure financing. If you have a relationship with a bank or credit union, it can be wise to start your shopping there. Otherwise, compare offers from online lenders and loan aggregators. 
2. Share lienholder information: After you have secured approval with a lender, you must share that information with Tesla. The institution will have a lienholder address that needs to be confirmed and shared. 
3. Arrange for payment: Lastly, you will be asked to share the payment with Tesla as soon as it is arranged to be delivered. You are responsible for submitting the amount due and the balance ahead of delivery. Also, at this point, it is important that you sign the provided Motor Vehicle Purchase Agreement.  

Benefits and risks of financing a Tesla

As with any sort of loan, there is an inherent risk that comes with financing a Tesla. But if you have crunched the numbers and feel confident in your ability to keep up with the monthly payments, it is a sound way to purchase an EV. Consider the pros and cons of financing a Tesla. 

Pros

• Can help you afford the most advanced Tesla available.
• Spreads out the high expense over time rather than all at once.
• The car will be yours once the loan ends.

Cons

• Puts you at risk for damaged credit in the future.
• You will be stuck with a Tesla for longer than if you chose to lease.
• Expensive monthly payments.

Next steps 

Buying a Tesla is an attractive option for shoppers who want to cut down on gas costs while also preserving the environment. But luxury comes at a cost. If you choose to finance a Tesla, determine which auto loan fits your needs and keep up with your payments to mitigate any future financial issues.

LIVORNO, Italy – He started working for the Army in Livorno in 1980, but after 10 years in ammunition surveillance as a material handler he decided to leave and take a corporate job in business finance and insurance.

Practically tied to a desk for 25 years, Remo Romiti longed to return to the Army and the Camp Darby military community. After applying for more than a couple of vacancies, the Italian host nation employee was selected to work as a material handler and forklift operator with Army Field Support Battalion-Africa at Leghorn Army Depot in 2016. And he’s been there ever since.

The 63-year-old local national employee in the Directorate of Supply said he enjoys working at Leghorn with AFSBn-Africa because every day there’s something new and he’s always busy. His job as a material handler and forklift operator includes spending much of his time in the shipping and receiving area at Leghorn.

“For example, my work includes palletizing material and completing all the required documentation for shipment. I also receive shipments, and when I do, I check to ensure everything is correct,” said Romiti. “I’ll verify all the serial numbers, stock numbers and quantities by checking the items and the paperwork before delivering the material to the various locations at Leghorn.”

If everything is correct, Romiti said he calls his supervisor and “we bring all this material to the designated areas. We have a lot of material and equipment in many warehouses across Leghorn, all divided up by UIC [unit identification code]. For example, if we receive some parts for UIC whiskey mike charlie three alpha alpha, we must bring this material to the right warehouse as soon as possible so the maintainers and mechanics can begin making the repairs or upgrades, immediately.”

“I tried and tried to get back to working with the U.S. Army many times so when I was hired as a material handler, I was very happy. I love working for the U.S. Army,” said Romiti, who has a 29-year-old daughter and is from Castiglioncello, Italy, just 20 miles south of Leghorn on the Mediterranean Sea,

When Romiti is not working at Leghorn or spending time with friends and family, he said he enjoys riding his bicycle and participating in road races. For the last 15 years, he averaged three big races per year.

“It’s a good way to stay active, and I enjoy it,” Romiti said. “It’s my number one hobby.”

AFSBn-Africa, one of four battalions under the command and control of the 405th Army Field Support Brigade, is charged with receiving, maintaining, and storing Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 at Leghorn Army Depot, which includes 16 warehouses with 749,000 square feet of humidity-controlled storage plus four maintenance facilities as well as 1.5 million square feet of outside storage.

Organizations AFSBn-Africa directly support – helping to enable readiness across two theaters of operations – are U.S. European Command, U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Southern European Task Force-Africa, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and other strategic partners and allies.

The 405th AFSB is assigned to U.S. Army Sustainment Command and headquartered in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The brigade provides materiel enterprise support to U.S. forces throughout Europe and Africa – providing theater sustainment logistics; synchronizing acquisition, logistics and technology; and leveraging the U.S. Army Materiel Command materiel enterprise to support joint forces. For more information on the 405th AFSB, visit the official website and the official Facebook site.