This Friday, February 2, the process of seizing the home of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo in Coconut Grove began, who was found guilty of abuse of power and violating the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Federal agents went to the scene to place an official notice on the door of the house, warning the official that the process to seize his home had begun.
According to the medium Local 10 Newsthis seizure aims to settle part of the massive legal sentence that was imposed on Carollo after the trial that was carried out against him.
And the official, originally from Cuba, was forced to pay more than 60 million dollars in damages to Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla, two businessmen from Little Havana.
These two accused the Miami commissioner of using his position and power to harass and carry out corrupt actions against them, all for supporting his political rival in 2017.
#UDPATE: Posting of documents means the process to seize #Carollo’s assets has started so Miami businessmen William Fuller and Martin Pinilla can collect $63 million awarded in federal court. #STORY: @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/vQDMKu9COk
— Hatzel Vela (@HatzelVelaWPLG) February 2, 2024
It should be noted that Carollo has not yet lost his home, and that experts believe that the official will appeal the seizure order.
In previous days, the official said he felt sure that the measure was not going to be carried out, arguing that this is protected as it is his current residence.
According to the media Miami HeraldCarollo notes that this is the case after the city modified voting maps as part of redistricting.
“They can’t take away someone’s house when it is their home. “This is my home,” the official said during a call.
However, experts consider that their case is not so clear, since the records do not show any property exemption on the residence. Likewise, Carollo appears to have recently failed in an attempt to obtain a quitclaim deed to add his wife’s name to the title of the house.
The commissioner’s defense insists that the home is marital property, so due process must be respected.
“It doesn’t matter if it is with one name or another. It is an equitable right. She has an equal right. This is his house and that of his wife, full tenants. They will be able to come and go whenever they want,” said lawyer Marc Sarnoff.
