Miami, FL
Miami-Dade commissioner’s aides schemed to rip off $640,000 in grants, prosecutors say
![Miami-Dade commissioner’s aides schemed to rip off $640,000 in grants, prosecutors say](https://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/fc7a8o/picture260971032/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1140/Mac-Kinley%20Lauristo_fitted.jpeg)
Mackinley Lauriston, a former North Miami mayoral candidate and county fee chief of employees, is going through fraud and racketeering fees.
On paper, the county fee grant cash went to assist underprivileged youths enjoying sports activities, help struggling seniors and fund cultural occasions celebrating Haitian tradition.
However in actuality, investigators say, greater than $640,000 in public cash was really stolen by two high aides to a Miami-Dade county commissioner, with the assistance of a South Florida banker. They’re accused of manipulating the method of awarding public grants, quietly steering the cash to their very own firms for 2 years from 2016 to 2018.
Authorities on Monday introduced the arrest of the three, which included suspected ringleader Mackinley Lauriston, who ran unsuccessfully for North Miami mayor and can be the previous chief of employees for Miami-Dade Commissioner Jean Monestime.
He was arrested together with present Monestime aide Evelt Jeudy, and Nadine Chery, a Wells Fargo banker who’s described as Lauriston’s longtime girlfriend. They’re charged with a bunch of felony counts, together with racketeering, organized fraud, grand theft and illegal compensation and official misconduct.
There’s no proof to recommend Monestime, a county commissioner since 2010, had any inkling of what his aides had been doing, prosecutors mentioned. “It seems they betrayed his belief too,” Miami-Dade State Lawyer Katherine Fernandez Rundle mentioned at a press convention on Monday.
Miami-Dade Inspector Normal Felix Jimenez, whose brokers dealt with the case, mentioned different crimes could also be uncovered. “We don’t suppose that is the top of it,” Jimenez mentioned. “There’s most likely much more.”
Lauriston, 55, has held a sequence of presidency jobs over time, together with as chief of employees for Monestime and as an assistant to the vice mayor of Miramar. On his web site, he says he spent 16 years working as a monetary analyst and accountant for the transport firm Ryder.
On-line, he describes himself as a “strategic marketing consultant” for his personal firm, Lauriston & Associates. He additionally ran for mayor of North Miami in 2019, dropping to Philippe Bien-Aime.
His protection lawyer, Larry Handfield, mentioned he surrendered on Sunday and plans to hunt vindication in court docket. “As soon as I’ve reviewed the proof, we’ll take it from there,” Handfield mentioned.
As for Jeudy, he works because the district coordinator for Monestime, who represents the county’s District 2, an space that features components of northern Miami and surrounding cities and neighborhoods. Jeudy earned $73,000 final yr within the place.
Chery and Jeudy’s protection attorneys declined to remark.
Monestime on Friday declined to touch upon the arrest of his aide. “Provided that this matter is now within the fingers of the legal justice system, I’m not at liberty to remark additional,” he mentioned in a press release.
In keeping with prosecutors, the stolen cash largely got here from “discretionary” grant cash allotted to Monestime’s workplace, which can be utilized for quite a lot of professional makes use of.
One instance: The commissioner’s workplace shelled out tens of hundreds to the Little Haiti Optimist Basis, a widely known nonprofit that helps youths within the neighborhood. However the nonprofit’s director, Marie Loussaint, instructed brokers that the commissioner’s workplace pushed her to use for grants — and that she was instructed she’d be performing as a “monetary agent.”
In Might 2016, data confirmed, the commissioner’s workplace instantly paid bills for meals, leisure and venue charges for the Might 2016 Haitian Heritage Month celebration. However then, the Optimist Basis, underneath grant-program guidelines, requested to be reimbursed for over $11,000 for those self same charges — regardless that it had by no means paid any to start with, in line with an arrest warrant.
In all, between 2016 and 2018, the inspiration acquired practically $90,000 in grants. However the basis, at Lauriston’s route, would write checks to numerous firms affiliated with the trio. The funds, as written on the checks, had been purportedly for every thing from turkey and toy giveaways to radio adverts for Haitian cultural occasions and “advertising and marketing and consulting providers,” in line with the warrant by IG Particular Agent Bassam Fadel, who’s dealing with the case with prosecutor Carol Jordan.
In a single case, prosecutors mentioned Lauriston acquired over $4,500 in county tuition reimbursement, regardless that he had already directed the inspiration to pay his invoice from Florida Worldwide College for him.
In one other instance, over $37,000 in grants went to a nonprofit referred to as Youth Schooling Via Sports activities, a professional group that largely depends on public funding to assist assist children’ groups, significantly in soccer. The founder, Mario Apollon, instructed brokers that he would obtain grants, however then the aides would require him to put in writing checks to the third events.
“Lauriston awarded him hundreds of grant {dollars}. Nevertheless, the defendants typically left Apollon with only some hundred {dollars} to run his program,” in line with the warrant.
Apollon instructed brokers he agreed to steer the cash to the businesses as a result of he was “afraid if he refused, he wouldn’t obtain some other funds.”
“These people had been thought of to be victims on this,” Jimenez mentioned. “They had been held hostage. If they didn’t take part, they might be minimize off.”
The three are accused of fraudulently restarting defunct companies to funnel the cash to themselves.
In a single case, they restarted a company referred to as the Haitian Senior Stars Solidarity Group, which ended up getting 4 grants from Lauriston, the warrant mentioned. The group ended up getting $417,425 in grant funds and surplus county property: two homes and a Dodge van.
The group’s former founder mentioned he was “pressured” into utilizing the group to obtain grant funds. After he closed the corporate, Lauriston and Jeudy “hijacked” the corporate, reopened it and used it to funnel grant funds, even forging paperwork to take action, prosecutors mentioned.
This story was initially revealed Might 2, 2022 8:55 AM.
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Miami, FL
Live Updates: Miami Marlins at Kansas City Royals (Game Two)
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On Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, the Kansas City Royals (43-37) are set to face the Miami Marlins (27-51). With the Royals currently in contention for an AL Wild Card spot, every game holds significant weight as they aim to build on their recent successes against a lower-ranked opponents.
Seth Lugo takes the mound for Kansas City, boasting an impressive 10-2 record with a stellar 2.42 ERA and 87 strikeouts. Lugo’s consistency and dominance on the mound have been instrumental for the Royals this season, providing stability in crucial games.
The Marlins will counter with Yonny Chirinos, who recently joined their roster. Chirinos brings a 0-0 record and a 3.60 ERA with six strikeouts. His role in Miami’s rotation marks an opportunity for him to establish himself and contribute to the Marlins’ efforts to disrupt the Royals’ offense.
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Miami, FL
Miami Dolphins 2024 roster: Biggest hole remaining?
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Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Miami Dolphins fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The Miami Dolphins are about a month away from training camp starting, bringing together the full roster and starting the build-up toward the 2024 NFL season. This year’s roster saw some major changes as players like defensive lineman Christian Wilkins and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel left in free agency while the team signed free agency defensive lineman Calais Campbell and drafted edge rusher Chop Robinson. It has been a busy offseason in South Florida.
Was it enough? Where are your concerns about the team and the roster they have built? We bring back our SB Nation Reacts fan poll today to get your thoughts on the Dolphins’ roster. We want to know where you think the biggest hole remaining on Miami’s roster is.
Vote in the poll below and head to the comments to share why you voted the way you did. We will be back with the results later this week.
Miami, FL
Don’t expect a Dolphins, Connor Williams reunion – The Splash Zone 6/25/24
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The Miami Dolphins wasn’t the same after they lost their starting center, Connor Williams, for the year after an ACL injury. Williams is still without a team as he rehabs from the injury, but his agent Drew Rosenhaus believes the o-lineman will be good to go for the start of the season. Rosenhaus doesn’t believe a reunion with the Dolphins will happen as the team went out and invested in a new center in Aaron Brewer. Williams prefers to stay at center and from the sounds of it, there will be plenty of teams interested in him when he is ready to go.
You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.
Will center Connor Williams re-sign with the Dolphins? His agent offers insight – Yahoo Sports
Dolphins free agent center Williams looking elsewhere.
Dolphins Wide Receivers
Miami Dolphins Training Camp Preview: WR Erik Ezukanma
The 2022 fourth-round pick will be looking to earn a roster spot and a role on offense after missing most of last season with a neck injury.
Phinsider News You May Have Missed
De’Von Achane, the X-factor – Miami Dolphins News 6/24/24 – The Phinsider
Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.
Pro Football Talk: Miami Dolphins not a top-10 NFL team – The Phinsider
In a pre-camp power rankings list, Mike Florio of PFT lists Miami Dolphins outside of the top-ten NFL teams.
Connor Williams Set To Return, Reunion with Miami Dolphins Unlikely – The Phinsider
Drew Rosenhuas confirms Connor Williams is healthy and has received interest from several teams. But will the Miami Dolphins be able to lure him back to South Florida?
Four former Miami Dolphins players available in free agency – The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins signed 18 players since free agency began but were also forced to move on from talented players.
Phinsider Question Of The Day: 2024 Yardage Leader Edition – The Phinsider
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