North Miami Beach Mayor Arrested For Fraud
Miami Beach Mayor Anthony DeFillipo is facing potentially 15 years in prison after being charged with alleged voter fraud in three different elections, according to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
The charges date from August, October, and November 2022 in which DeFillipo allegedly drove from Davie to North Miami Beach and voted in a precinct there, then returned to Davie. Rundle said cell phone data was utilized to determine the mayor’s movements on those dates.
Rundle commented, “Our voting laws apply to everyone. There are no unwritten exceptions.”
The felony accusations stem from a complaint filed with the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust that alleged DeFillipo resided in the town of Davie in Broward County, a violation of the North Miami Beach city charter that requires elected officials to reside in the city.
The Miami Herald reported that DeFillipo owned two properties in the Sierra Ranches community in Davie, although he maintained that he lived at his residence in North Miami Beach. Records showed that DeFillipo and his wife purchased a six-bedroom home in the Davie community for $1,226,500 in July of 2022.
DeFillipo’s attorney, Michael Pizzi, said in a statement that his client’s arrest was politically motivated, insisting that DeFillipo “always intended to and always lived in North Miami Beach.” He further added that they were looking forward to a speedy exoneration.
The mayor of North Beach Miami is a Democrat in office since 2018 when he was elected to the city commission for five years. DeFillipo is a licensed real estate broker and CEO of TD Managing Enterprise.
The news comes as the third North Miami Beach mayor to be arrested in 11 years.
In order to ensure a fair criminal process, DeFillipo is entitled to a legal defense in court and a trial if charges are brought against him. The mayor is scheduled to appear for an arraignment on August 11.