The South Florida state attorney has ordered a Miami-Dade County commissioner to turn himself in to authorities, apparently for tax fraud on tax returns.
Catherine Fernandez-Roundle will announce the charges at a news conference Tuesday, but Commissioner Joe Martinez has hinted that the case is related to a five-year investigation into her work with a security company and her income.
But come election time, Martinez, who is running for re-election and intends to run for the job of sheriff or bailiff, which will be created in 2024 alongside the county’s police chief, is blaming the county’s Democratic-elect prosecutor for “false” accusations. before his possible candidacy for sheriff.
Martínez communicated through his lawyer, Ben Khume, that his surrender to the authorities is based on “politically motivated accusations” that he will face.
In a statement circulated to supporters but written for public release, Martinez said he would present his case to Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who has the power to suspend Martinez if the commissioner and former police lieutenant come face criminal charges.
“The investigation has been ongoing for five years, so the filing of these allegations, which do not involve Commissioner Martinez’s time in public office, appear to be politically forced when he is considered the leading candidate for the future position of Sheriff. Miami-Dade,” Martinez’s statement said.
The statement, delivered to the daily Miami Herald, is dated Sunday and says Martinez has clashed with Fernandez Rundle over the amount of funding the future sheriff’s office will receive once it is revived under a new amendment to the Florida Constitution.
“Whether this apparent public conflict influenced the state attorney’s decision is a matter that will come before Florida Governor DeSantis,” the statement said.
The statement offers the first public details of the charges Martinez faces. He said that he has declared income from a private security company, has been under investigation for five years for allegations stemming from his private practice work as a consultant when he was a private citizen and not an elected official.”
The commissioner has held the 11th County Commission District seat since 2016 and was campaigning to be the Commission’s next chairman as he weighs a run for Sheriff.
