Former Opa Locka City Commissioner Luis Santiago pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a two-year bribery and extortion scheme that turned city hall into a pay-to-play operation. Santiago admitted in federal court before Judge Kathleen M. Williams that he demanded and accepted thousands of dollars in cash from local businesses in exchange for using his official powers to grease the wheels of city bureaucracy.
The charges, filed under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 666(a)(1)(B), and 1951(a), expose a web of corruption that reached deep into Opa Locka’s government. Santiago conspired with former City Manager David Chiverton, Assistant Public Works Director Gregory Harris, and other city employees to extort money from individuals seeking licenses, code enforcement relief, water service restoration, and zoning approvals. Those who paid got fast-tracked — those who didn’t were left in limbo.
According to court filings, Santiago personally collected illegal payments and funneled them to Chiverton, directing businesses to pay Chiverton directly for favorable treatment. Official actions — including issuing occupational licenses and wiping away liens — were treated like commodities, sold to the highest bidder. The scheme ran unchecked for two years, eroding public trust and turning municipal services into a criminal enterprise.
Chiverton and Harris have already pleaded guilty. Chiverton was hit with a 38-month federal prison sentence by Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Harris is awaiting sentencing before Judge Beth Bloom. Santiago’s fate will be decided March 30, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Williams.
“Today in open court, a former City Commissioner admitted that he betrayed the trust placed in him by the people of Opa Locka by abusing his authority to demand and obtain bribes,” said U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer. “This type of public corruption by an elected official erodes the crucial bond between our public institutions and the communities that they serve.”
The FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force led the investigation. Senior Litigation Counsel Edward Stamm and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Selmore are prosecuting the case. Court documents are available via the Southern District of Florida’s public docket at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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