Mocobizscene- State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, along with Miami-Dade County Inspector General Felix Jimenez, has announced the filing of criminal charges against former Miami-Dade School Board member Lubby Navarro. Navarro is being charged with two counts of Scheme to Defraud and two counts of Grand Theft. This comes after an investigation conducted by the State Attorney’s Public Corruption Task Force, which revealed the improper use of school district credit cards for personal gain. The investigation found that Navarro used the credit cards to purchase non-school related items, such as home appliances, electronics, clothing, health and beauty products, household goods, home furnishings, food, and various store gift cards.
Lubby Navarro faced the following charges:
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- 1 Count – Organized Fraud/ $50,000 or More
- 1 Count – Grand Theft Third Degree
- 1 Count – Organized Fraud/ $20,000 or Less
- 1 Count – Grand Theft Second Degree
The School District Administration in South Florida stumbled upon a problem when Navarro departed from her position in December 2022. As her outstanding credit card paperwork was left unfinished, a reconciliation process brought to light some suspicious bills and statements. A preliminary examination highlighted significant purchases, prompting an inquiry into possible irregularities. Subsequently, it was uncovered that her purchases, amounting to almost $100,000, were personal in nature and unauthorized, rather than being related to school matters.
State Attorney Fernandez Rundle expressed concern over Navarro’s actions, emphasizing that every dollar stolen and used by Navarro directly impacts the school system and, consequently, deprives children of opportunities for a better future. With Navarro’s previous role as the Vice Chair of the School Board and her extensive experience within the education system since 2002, it is disheartening to see her embark on such a regrettable path.
If you come across any suspected cases of Public Corruption, the State Attorney strongly encourages you to report them to our Public Corruption Hotline at 305-547-3300.
“We have dedicated a significant amount of effort to combat public corruption, but unfortunately, there are still individuals who believe they can deceive the public without consequence. Today, we want to make it clear that if you even consider engaging in such unethical behavior, my Public Corruption Task Force, along with the entire Law Enforcement community, will be prepared to hold you accountable.”
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