Related Federal Cases
- Bradley Temple Embezzled COVID Funds, Wheeling WV, 2023 · Virginia
- Two Foreign Nationals, ID Theft Scheme, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Florida
- Bradley Temple Embezzled COVID Relief Funds, Wheeling WV, 2023 · Virginia
- John F. Rivers, Car Theft Scheme, New York, 2023 · Florida
- Kristi Noem, DHS Illegally Withholds $33M Transit Security Funds, N… · Florida
Defendant Charged in $5M Fraud Scheme
The Miami-Dade County Aviation Department Division Director and four others were charged in a $5,000,000 fraud and kickback scheme.
Ivan Valdes, 46, of Miami, the Division Director for the Aviation Terminal Building Maintenance for the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department, was charged in an Information with theft in programs receiving federal funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666.
A separate Information charges Roy Jesus Bustillo, 37, Rolando Perez, 57, and Jose Barroso, 51, all of Miami, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
Another Information charges Ygnacio Valdez, 45, of Miami, an employee in the Procurement Section of the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department, with misprision of a felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 4.
“Taxpayers deserve to have their hard-earned monies fund local government, not the pockets of individuals who deprive South Florida residents of the benefit of honest services,” stated U.S. Attorney Ferrer.
The investigation revealed that Bustillo was the exclusive area representative in South Florida for the sale of certain LED light fixtures. Valdes told Barroso that he would request that the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department purchase the light fixtures represented by Bustillo, if he was paid a share of the proceeds.
Valdes and Barroso agreed and during the period of 2010 through and including 2015, the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department issued approximately twenty requests for Invitations to Quote for the purchase of millions of dollars of LED light fixtures.
Global Electrical & Lighting Supplies, Inc., owned by Rolando Perez, submitted bids and was awarded the contracts for each and every Invitation to Quote issued.
Perez and Bustillo had a secret agreement wherein Perez would be the only vendor who knew the actual price that Bustillo had agreed upon with the lighting manufacturer for the light fixtures and that a fake mounting accessory was included in the Invitations to Quote.
Knowing the additional profit that was to be received from each of the contracts, Bustillo and Perez were able to steal millions of dollars from the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
