MIAMI – More than a year after announcing charges, Broward prosecutors have dropped the criminal case against former Miami City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla and attorney William Riley.
Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor, who prosecuted the case, made the announcement Wednesday.
Díaz de la Portilla, 60, who served on the Miami city commission representing District 1 from 2020 until he was suspended from office shortly after his arrest on corruption charges in September 2023, was charged of secretly receiving tens of thousands of dollars from the owners of a private school.
The commissioner and Riley, 49, were accused of laundering approximately $245,000 in hidden political contributions to support the construction of the Centner Academy sports complex on public land in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood.
In a statement, Pryor said that after “a substantial follow-up investigation and extensive witness statements, we have concluded that there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction.”
William Riley (MDCR)
“When the arrests were made, I promised that our prosecutors would seek justice in this matter and that is what we have done,” he said.
In a closing memo, prosecutors wrote: “The evidence does not demonstrate corrupt intent, illegal benefits or falsification of records. “Witness testimony is unreliable and legal actions have been misinterpreted as criminal.”
“Substantial follow-up investigations and statements have been conducted that revealed that the basis of this entire investigation was flawed and supported by unverified information,” prosecutors wrote, calling the case “purely circumstantial.”
Díaz de la Portilla, who consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing, attempted to regain his seat in the 2023 election but lost to rival Miguel Gabela under the cloud of criminal charges.
Those charges are now a thing of the past.
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What impact do you think the dropped charges will have on public trust in Miami’s political system?
Thank you for joining us today on World-Today News. Can you please introduce yourselves and share your thoughts on the dropped charges against former Miami City Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla and attorney William Riley?
Guest 1: Thank you for having us. My name is William Riley, and I am a renowned attorney in Miami. I am delighted by the outcome of this case as the charges against my client, Alex Díaz de la Portilla, and I have been dropped. We have always maintained our innocence, and we are grateful that the Broward State Attorney recognizes the lack of evidence and has dropped the charges.
Guest 2: Hello, I am Miguel Gabela, the newly elected Miami City Commissioner representing District 1. While I respect the court’s decision, I am disappointed that those who engaged in corrupt activities are not held accountable for their actions. I hope this serves as a lesson to others who may consider similar practices in the future.
Can you elaborate on the allegations against you and Mr. Díaz de la Portilla? What do you believe led to the charges being dropped?
Guest 1: The allegations against us were that we secretly received tens of thousands of dollars from the owners of a private school to support the construction of a sports complex on public land. We were accused of laundering approximately $245,000 through legal channels. However, after a thorough investigation, the Broward State Attorney found no reasonable likelihood of conviction due to unreliable witness testimony and the misinterpretation of legal actions as criminal. The case was purely circumstantial, and we are glad that justice has prevailed.
Guest 2: I understand your perspective, but I believe there was enough evidence to proceed with the case. The fact that you received large sums of money from the owners of a private school without disclosing it raised red flags. Furthermore, the use of public land for private purposes is concerning. Despite the outcome, it’s crucial to maintain transparency and ethical standards in public office.
As a lawyer, Mr. Riley, how do you feel about the legal system’s response to allegations of corruption involving public officials? Do you think there needs to be stricter regulations or stronger enforcement?
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