Contractor William Pino Gets One-Year Sentence for Bribery

MIAMI – In a gritty move against corruption, William E. Pino, 60, of Miami, has been sentenced to one year and a day in prison for his role in a bribery scheme targeting a Broward County public official.

Pino, a lighting contractor, was caught red-handed when he met with an FBI informant and the public official in Plantation, Florida. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Pino agreed to pay $5,000 in exchange for a $100,000 purchase order for light poles.

U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and FBI Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro highlighted the investigative efforts that led to Pino’s conviction. The defendant, who previously pleaded guilty, now faces one year of supervised release after his prison term, with a requirement to perform 300 hours of community service.

Pino’s scheme came to light when he met with the confidential informant and was advised that the public official had an interest in securing contracts for street lights and traffic systems. Pino’s agreement to ‘take care of’ the official led to his downfall, as he was handed a purchase order and paid off accordingly.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey N. Kaplan, who praised the work of the FBI in uncovering this corruption. For more information on this case, visit the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida or the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida.