In Miami Beach, Florida, Democrat Mayor Anthony DeFillipo is facing some serious allegations and 15 years of prison time for voter fraud. The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics & Public Trust recently filed a complaint accusing DeFillipo of living in the town of Davie in Broward County outside of his district, instead of the city of North Miami Beach where he is required to live according to city charter.
DeFillipo admitted that he owns a property in Davie but insists that he lives in North Miami Beach. To back this up, he produced records showing that he owns two properties in Davie.
Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has accused DeFillipo of driving from Davie to North Miami Beach to cast his vote in three different elections in August, October, and November 2022. Cellphone data was used to prove that DeFillipo made the trips, and Rundle had alleged that this would be considered illegal voting.
DeFillipo has denied the allegations of voter fraud, claiming it is politically motivated. He also mentioned that the complaint was filed six months before his arrest. His attorney Michael Pizzi has declared that the mayor has always resided in North Miami Beach, and they look forward to a speedy exoneration.
DeFillipo is registered as a Democrat and is a licensed real estate broker and CEO of TD Managing Enterprise. He served on the city commission for an impressive 5 years before becoming mayor in 2018.
Unfortunately, DeFillipo is not the first North Miami Beach mayor to be arrested in 11 years. Therefore if the allegations are found to be true, this could put Mayor Anthony DeFillipo’s political career in jeopardy, and he could face 15 years in prison for this crime.
DeSantis on Monday signed an executive order immediately suspending DeFillipo, who was arrested in Miami-Dade on three counts of an unqualified elector willfully voting, a third-degree felony.
“It is in the best interests of the residents of the City of North Miami Beach, and the citizens of the State of Florida, that Anthony F. DeFillipo II be immediately suspended from the public office which he now holds,” DeSantis wrote in the executive order.
