Read the warrant alleging ex-Florida Sen. Frank Artiles paid shill candidate to dupe voters

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Former state lawmaker Frank Artiles and Alex Rodriguez, a candidate allegedly paid to fool voters in the 2020 election, were booked into jail in Miami-Dade County on Thursday.

Investigators say Artiles paid Rodriguez $44,708.03 “for changing his party affiliation, qualifying as an independent candidate for Senate Seat 37, and attempting to [siphon] votes from the incumbent candidate.”

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That Democrat incumbent shared the last name Rodriguez, and Jose Javier Rodriguez ultimately lost the District 37 vote to Republican challenger Ileana Garcia by just 32 votes.

Details of the scheme are outlined by investigators in a warrant obtained by Local 10 News that can be read below:


About the Author

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."

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