Feb 9, 2008 7:39 am US/Eastern
Miami City Attorney May Soon Plead Guilty
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Jorge Fernandez, Miami City Attorney
CBS
CBS4 News has learned that Miami City Attorney Jorge Fernandez allegedly broke the law by living high on the hog at taxpayer's expense, and he may be close to reaching a plea deal in the case.
In the investigation,
CBS4's Gary Nelson learned that thousands of dollars of often large tabs submitted in Fernandez's expense reports for reimbursement, without detailed explanation, were being investigated.
We detailed expensive meals, thousands of dollars Fernandez charged to the city in his expense reports:
- A $400 Christmas Party
- A $254 Lunch
- A $530 Meal at a steakhouse
And at the Rusty Pelican taxpayers picked up a tab of $1,539.29. Our investigation revealed the soiree by the bay was a graduation party for the city attorney's son. Fernandez has reached a preliminary plea bargain with the State Attorney's Office. If finalized the deal will see him resign as city attorney, make a restitution payment to the city, and plea to a misdemeanor in court.
Gary Nelson has also learned that Miami Police investigators in December swore out an arrest warrant for Fernandez, charging him with multiple felony counts of Grand Theft and Official Misconduct. That arrest warrant has languished at the State Attorney's Office, and now some sources close to the investigation are incredulous at the proposed deal to let Fernandez off with just a misdemeanor.
One source said, "This is a solid case. We have all the documents, his false statements, for him to walk like this? He's the City Attorney. He should be held to higher account."
We tried catching up with Fernandez for comment at City Hall, but he refused to comment.
Some who worked on the case for months told Gary Nelson they are livid that the state attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle would apparently agree to such a plea bargain, one saying, "It's not just. Other public employees have been prosecuted much more severely for doing much less. This is ridiculous."
The State Attorney's Office declined to comment for this report.
Jorge Fernandez's attorney did confirm a plea bargain is in the works. He said, "Talks have been ongoing with the State Attorney's office, but there is no final plea agreement in place."
He would not confirm or deny a preliminary deal that would see the city's free-spending attorney escape serious criminal charges.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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