Ex-Florida legislator, Miami commissioner Díaz de la Portilla arrested on corruption charges

Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla was arrested Thursday on a host of corruption charges that include bribery and money laundering, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Agents arrested Díaz de la Portilla and William “Bill” Riley Jr., an attorney and lobbyist who investigators say conspired in a scheme to launder $245,000 in political contributions in exchange for the commissioner’s support on a plan to build a sports complex in the city of Miami. The sports complex to which the law enforcement agency was referring was not immediately clear.

Riley, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, controlled a bank account in the name of a Delaware-based corporation that laundered the donations.

Investigators also say they found that Díaz de la Portilla controlled two political committees that were used to fund personal expenses. The inquiry also found that both men accepted more than $15,000 in political contributions without reporting them, according to a press release. Investigators say the payments were meant to support a judicial campaign for one of his brothers.

Riley, 48, and Díaz de la Portilla, 58, each face one count of money laundering; three counts of unlawful compensation or reward for official behavior; one count of bribery; and one count of criminal conspiracy.

In addition, Diaz de la Portilla faces four counts of official misconduct; one count of campaign contribution in excess of legal limits; and two counts of failure to report a gift.

Separately, Riley is charged with failure to disclose lobbyist expenses.

Díaz de la Portilla is being held on a $72,000 bond, while Riley Jr. is being held on a $46,000 bond.

Attorney Michael Davis, who along with lawyer Benedict Kuehne is representing the commissioner, said Alex Díaz de la Portilla did nothing wrong.

“The commissioner is innocent of the charges filed against him and he looks forward to vindication in the court of law,” Davis said.

An attorney for Riley also defended his client. “I know Bill and I’m confident he’s going to be completely vindicated,” said lawyer Kendall Coffey.

Riley and the commissioner are expected to make their first appearances in front of a judge on Friday morning.

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The case was handled by Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor in a joint investigation with the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics that was ordered up nearly two years ago by Gov. Ron DeSantis after the Miami-Dade state attorney raised a potential conflict.

A spokeswoman for Pryor’s office said the arrest warrants are “not public record from this agency at this time.” The case will be handled in Miami-Dade court.

Commissioner Díaz de la Portilla was present at a short City Commission meeting Thursday at City Hall, where his staff would not make him available to speak with a reporter. He left the dais before the meeting concluded, putting his cellphone to his ear. He was later seen leaving through the back door shortly after the meeting ended around midday.

A short time later, Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents arrived at City Hall early Thursday afternoon, entered the building and left about 15 minutes after.

Miami Herald staff writer Camellia Burris contributed to this report.

This story may be updated.