On Wednesday, North Miami Beach Democrat Mayor Anthony DeFillipo was taken into custody, facing three felony charges related to illegal voting.
The charges against DeFillipo arise from allegations that he voted in a North Miami Beach district, despite no longer living in the area.
According to Florida Politics, each count carries a five-year prison sentence, $5,000 in fines, and a five-year probation period.
During an afternoon press conference, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the State Attorney for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, revealed specific information about the three felony charges brought against DeFillipo.
“We believe the evidence shows (DeFillipo) voted illegally three times,” she stated.
Rundle clarified that despite relocating from his Miami-Dade residence to a new address in Davie, DeFillipo unlawfully voted in August, October, and November 2022 for a district he was no longer qualified to vote in.
“We in law enforcement take actions which violate our election laws very seriously. They are crimes. Today, we are charging Anthony DeFillipo, the present Mayor North Miami Beach, with 3 counts of Unqualified Voters Willfully Voting, 3rd degree felonies,” she said.
As reported by Florida Politics:
Records show DeFillipo was booked just before noon Wednesday at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond.
The Democratic Mayor has faced allegations in recent months that he does not live in North Miami Beach, a requirement for elected city officials, and instead resides in a $1.2 million Davie home he and his wife bought in July 2022.
DeFillipo has repeatedly denied the allegation he doesn’t live in North Miami Beach, insisting he’s been estranged from his family due to “marital issues” and resides in a rented, one-bedroom condo within the city’s bounds.
He also admitted to being president of the homeowners association governing his Davie property, a post he resigned from on Jan. 19.
Two days before he stepped down from the HOA, DeFillipo tried unsuccessfully to change the city charter to reduce the Commission quorum after three City Commissioners — Fleurimond, Daniela Jean and Michael Joseph — refused to recognize him as Mayor, saying he’d broken city rules, and began boycotting meetings.
The turmoil this month trailed other instances of unrest at City Hall, including the March 16 resignation of City Attorney Hans Ottinot, who complained he and his firm been targets of “unfair political attacks because of our adherence to the law,” and a 6-1 vote six days later to fire then-City Manager Arthur Sorey III without cause.
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