MIAMI – Former Miami-Dade School Board Vice Chair Lubby Navarro was back in court Friday as she faced a judge for a formal arraignment on multiple grand theft and fraud charges.
The case stems from allegations that Navarro, 49, stole about $100,000 from the school district by making personal purchases on her official credit card in 2022, just before she resigned from the board over a new state law prohibiting lobbyists from holding elected positions.
Investigators said those taxpayer-funded purchases ranged from food, groceries, appliances and vacations to two “silicone pregnancy bellies” used in an attempt to convince her ex-boyfriend she was expecting.
Navarro has pleaded not guilty to the charges and her attorney, Ben Kuehne, said he’s confident that she will be acquitted.
Kuehne asked for a jury trial on Friday.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for April.