Miami Woman Admits Rigging Congressional Primary

MIAMI, FL – Ana Alliegro, 44, of Miami, isn’t just facing a slap on the wrist. She’s staring down the barrel of federal prison time after admitting today she deliberately broke the law to influence the 2014 Democratic primary race for Florida’s 26th Congressional District. The confession came before U.S. District Court Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr., and signals a significant victory for the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force.

Alliegro pled guilty to four counts, a damning indictment of her actions. Specifically, she admitted to conspiracy to make false statements to the Federal Election Commission and to violating contribution limits (Count 1), a straight-up lie to federal investigators (Count 2), and making illegal campaign contributions (Counts 3 & 4). This wasn’t a simple oversight; it was a calculated effort to skirt the rules and potentially sway an election.

The implications are clear: Alliegro wasn’t playing by the book. The Federal Election Campaign Act exists to ensure fair and transparent elections, and her actions directly undermined that process. While the specifics of how she attempted to manipulate the election remain murky, the guilty plea confirms she actively worked to conceal the source and amount of campaign funding.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and FBI Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro didn’t mince words, announcing the guilty plea with a clear message: attempts to corrupt the electoral process will be met with the full force of the law. The FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force deserves credit for digging into this case and bringing Alliegro to justice. Senior Litigation Counsel Thomas J. Mulvihill is prosecuting the case, and will undoubtedly be seeking a substantial sentence.

Alliegro now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each of the four counts, meaning she could spend up to 20 years behind bars. Add to that a potential fine of up to $250,000 per count – a staggering $1 million total. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Scola. This case serves as a stark warning to anyone considering manipulating the political system.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available. For more information, visit the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls or the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov, or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.