Joe Martínez, a former Miami-Dade Commissioner of Cuban descent, was found guilty Thursday on charges of conspiracy and unlawful compensation after a trial lasting just over a week. Martínez faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, following accusations of accepting $15,000 from a supermarket owner in a failed attempt to modify a county ordinance related to code compliance issues.
Having retired as a police lieutenant, Martínez was once a potential candidate for sheriff in the 2024 elections. A member of the Republican Party, he represented District 11 in West Miami-Dade from 2016 and was known as a leader among the conservative bloc of board members.
The Legal Battle
Tim VanderGiesen, the prosecuting attorney, remarked, "A public official cannot exploit people for personal gain through their public office." On the other hand, Martínez's defense attorney, Ben Kuehne, contended, "There was no evidence that Joe Martínez was financially desperate, unable to pay his bills, or behind on his mortgage. None of that was true."
Kuehne further asserted, "Whether in office or out, as a retired law enforcement officer or private citizen, he always aimed to help others," according to Local 10's reporting.
Community Impact and Historical Recognition
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle also commented on the verdict, stating, "With the guilty verdict against former county commissioner Joe Martínez, 12 citizens of Miami-Dade weighed the evidence, heard all the testimonies, and determined that the misuse of elected office for financial gain will not be tolerated in this community."
Martínez began his career in law enforcement in 1984 in Miami-Dade, rising through the ranks to serve as a detective in the General Investigations Unit from 1988 to 1992, and was later promoted to lieutenant.
In recognition of his bravery during a drug operation where he shielded a fellow officer from harm, the Miami-Dade County Commission declared July 27, 1993, as "Detective José Martínez Day."
Born in Miami and of Cuban heritage, Martínez holds a degree in Public Administration from Barry University. The news of his arrest was first reported by the blog Político Cortadito in August 2022, the same month Martínez voluntarily turned himself in at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.