Former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and wife indicted on tax evasion charges
Source: Miami Herald
Posted on Thursday, 05.16.13
Former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina and wife indicted on tax evasion charges
BY JAY WEAVER
jweaver@MiamiHerald.com
Former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, who lost a bid for Miami-Dade County’s top political position, and his wife were charged Thursday with tax evasion for allegedly making loans at sky-high interest rates and failing to report secret cash payments, authorities said.
Julio Robaina, 47, who was at the center of Hialeah’s “shadow-banking” industry, and Raiza Villacis Robaina, 39, are accused of receiving the undisclosed cash payments as interest on more than $1 million in personal loans they made to old friends and associates, including convicted Ponzi schemer Luis Felipe Perez.
The couple is scheduled to surrender to authorities Friday and have their initial court appearance. Their attorneys could not be reached for immediate comment.
Both were indicted on charges of conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by committing tax evasion and filing false tax returns. They also were charged with lying to federal agents. The IRS began investigating Robaina’s finances in 2010, while authorities were making their case against Perez, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/16/3400890/former-hialeah-mayor-julio-robaina.html#storylink=cpy
After endorsing Julio Robaina, Jeb Bush will be special guest at fundraiser for Carlos Gimenez
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has officially won over the local political establishment.
The mayor, who is seeking reelection next year, will be feted at a fundraising reception in a few weeks that will feature a who's who of Miami-Dade political players -- including several who backed Gimenez's opponent, former Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina, in a special election a few short months ago. (Could the fundraiser be a sign that Robaina does not intend to run for the office again in 2012?)
In June, Republican fundraiser Jorge Arrizurieta stumped passionately for Robaina, appearing on Spanish-language radio and contributing money to Robaina's campaign.
On Dec. 9, Arrizurieta will co-host the fundraiser for Gimenez at the Biltmore Hotel. The special guest: former Gov. Jeb Bush, who gave Robaina his endorsement early on in the mayoral race.
"I recognize the strong leadership that Mayor Gimenez has shown out of the gate since his election," Arrizurieta wrote in an e-mail inviting friends to the $500-a-head luncheon. "He has simply done what he said he would do...Governor Jeb Bush also recognizes the exemplary leadership displayed by Mayor Gimenez."
More:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2011/11/after-endorsing-julio-robaina-jeb-bush-will-be-special-guest-at-fundraiser-for-carlos-gimenez.html#storylink=cpy
[center]
[/center]
= new reply since forum marked as read
