Releases & Reports
Annual Reports
In accordance with our statutory obligation, these reports highlight the investigations, audits and reviews we conduct throughout the fiscal year. In addition, these reports aim to inspire employees, business owners and residents to report wrongdoing in County government.
Investigations
These advisory memoranda and public reports announce arrests, sentencing and final reports of investigations and include findings and recommendations that encourage fairness and accountability.
Audits
Produced by the Deputy Inspector General and staff, these reports detail audits, reviews, inspections and evaluations. These audits are central to ensuring transparency, efficiency and revenue accountability throughout our County government.
Contract Oversight
Drawing on professional expertise that includes governmental budgets, finance and engineering, the general counsel and staff proactively assess contract performance and monitor procurement processes, preventing fraud, waste and abuse.
Latest Releases & Reports
Arrest Related to a Scheme to Defraud Citrus Health and the Homeless Trust of Funding Provided by Miami-Dade County, IG25-0019-I
Statement from the Inspector General. Miami-Dade County has dedicated so much time, effort and resources toward the needs of the unhoused through the Homeless Trust that it is inexcusable when someone abuses a position of trust to divert resources meant for people who have nowhere else to turn. Every dollar diverted from this Trust is a dollar that didn’t reach someone that was desperately in need. Citrus self-reported to the OIG has made full restitution to the Trust and continues to cooperate with investigators. I want to thank the State Attorney for her untiring stance against public corruption and am grateful for our continued partnership with the Sheriff’s Office.
Two Individuals Sentenced and One Arrested in Connection with Scheme to Defraud Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Ref. IG23-0016-I and IG24-0003-I
Joint investigations by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, resulted in the sentencing of Eleanor Humphrey-Jones and Tranell Brownlee and in the felony arrest of Reshavia Lawrence. All three are alleged to have defrauded the Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Arrest Made in Connection with Scheme to Defraud Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Ref. IG23-0016-I
A joint investigation by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office resulted in the felony arrest of Stacey Clark, who is alleged to have stolen over $34,000 from Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
OIG Observations on Selected Recommendations of the Special Task Force to Reduce Inefficiencies in Procurement, IG25-0005-O
The Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General shares its observations on selected recommendations of the Special Task Force to Reduce Inefficiencies in Procurement (STRIP) that are currently being considered for implementation through legislative items 5E through 5H of the September 1, 2026, Board of County Commissioners preliminary agenda.
Three Arrests Made in Connection with Scheme to Defraud Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Ref. IG24-0009-I and IG26-0014-I
Two joint investigations by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, resulted in the felony arrests of Ricardo Navarro, Dominic Cunningham, and Shirlisa Owens. Mr. Navarro, Mr. Cunninghan, and Ms. Owens were charged in two separate cases and are alleged to have stolen monies from Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Mr. Navarro, Mr. Cunningham, and Ms. Owens were each charged with one count of Organized Scheme to Defraud (Over $20,000), in violation of Florida Statute 817.034, a second-degree felony and one count of Grand Theft (Over $20,000) in violation of Florida Statute 812.014, a second-degree felony.
Two WASD Employees Arrested for the Fraudulent Acquisition of a Commercial Driver License, Ref. IG26-0005-I
A joint investigation by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office resulted in the felony arrests of two Water and Sewer Department employees, Matthew Howard, Jr. and Keith Garrod Jones. Both are alleged to have fraudulently obtained a Commercial Driver License from a Miami-Dade County Office of the Tax Collector employee, Vanessa Erika Roberts.
OIG Report of Investigation – Employees Illegally Recycling WASD Scrap Metal, Ref. IG22-0017-I
The investigation substantiated that WASD employees were selling WASD scrap metal to secondary metal recyclers for their personal benefit. Four employees were arrested on various fraud-related charges. The OIG conducted a joint criminal investigation with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Arrest Made in Connection with Scheme to Defraud Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Ref. IG23-0016-I
A joint investigation by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, resulted in the felony arrest of Breazetha Smith. Ms. Smith is alleged to have facilitated a scheme to defraud which resulted in the theft of over $57,000 from Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
2025 Annual Report
Read the 2025 Annual Report for Miami-Dade County's Office of the Inspector General.
Arrests Made in Connection with Scheme to Defraud Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program, Ref. IG23-0016-I
February 12, 2026
A joint investigation by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, resulted in the felony arrests of Eleanor Humphrey, Claretha Benjamin, and Cedric Campbell. Ms. Humphrey, Ms. Benjamin, and Mr. Campbell are alleged to have stolen of over $100,000 from Miami-Dade County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).
One Additional Water and Sewer Department (WASD) Employee Arrested in Scheme to Steal WASD Scrap Metal, Ref. IG22-0017-I
February 10, 2026
Barbaro Leonel Gutierrez, a former WASD Pipefitter Supervisor was arrested on February 5, 2026, in connection with one count of Petit Theft in violation of Florida Statute 812.014, which carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year. The OIG investigation has already resulted in charges against three WASD employees for recycling county scrap for their private gain.
OIG Successfully Completes the 2025 Peer Review by the Association of Inspectors General
December 18, 2025
The Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General is pleased to announce the successful completion of a comprehensive peer review conducted by the Association of Inspectors General. The Peer Review Team unanimously concluded that the OIG’s Investigations, Audit, and Contract Oversight Units fully comply with all applicable AIG Quality Standards for Offices of Inspector General.
County Contractor’s Employee Charged with Forging a Department of Transportation and Public Works Project Manager’s Signature; Ref.IG25-0015-I
October 21, 2025
IG25-0015-I
Vladimir Guzman Gonzalez, an employee of JVA Engineering Contractors, Inc. was arrested and charged with one count of Forgery, a third-degree felony.
Second Arrest of Former County Commission Staffer and Accomplice for COVID-19 Relief Fraud; Ref. IG24-0017-I
October 10, 2025
IG24-0017-I
Mr. Lauriston, Ms. Chery, and Mr. Blanc submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications to the SBA in the name of various shell corporations in their control. They sought and received both PPP, and EIDL funds by falsely claiming employees they did not have, submitting false IRS Form W-2’s for those fabricated employees and inflating gross revenues. As a result of these fraudulent applications, Mr. Lauriston, Ms. Chery, and Mr. Blanc received over $600,000 in SBA backed loans. Mr. Lauriston and Ms. Chery, along with Mr. Blanc, were arrested following an indictment charging them with Bank and Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Money Laundering Conspiracy, Racketeering, Bank Bribery, Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud.
County Contractor Sentenced in Federal Court for Role in Bribery Scheme; Ref. IG21-0015-I
October 8, 2025
IG21-0015-I
Jessie Bledsoe, the principal and owner of JB Railroad Contracting, Inc., a county contractor, was sentenced in Miami federal court for his role in a felony bribery scheme involving Dale Robinson, the former Acting General Superintendent of the Department of Transportation and Public Works’ Track and Guideway (Rail) Division, as well as Robinson’s spouse, Marcia Robinson. Bledsoe, who pled guilty to the bribery charges on May 9, 2025, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Beth Bloom to a term of imprisonment of four (4) months, to be followed by a three (3) year term of supervised release, including a special condition of eight (8) months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, a criminal fine in the amount of $7,500, and a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $75,956.
Three Water and Sewer Department Employees Arrested in Schemes to Steal Scrap Metal; Ref. IG22-0017-I
September 22, 2025
IG22-0017-I
A joint investigation by the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, culminated today in the arrest of two pipefitters and a pipefitter supervisor, all three current Water and Sewer Department employees. The employees, Joel Saud, Juan Carlos de los Santos, and Richard Tamarez, were arrested for the theft of scrap metal generated on the job.
Former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose (Joe) A. Martinez
September 15, 2025
IG17-0019-I
Former Miami-Dade County District 11 Commissioner Joe Martinez was found guilty by a jury last November on corruption charges and was sentenced to 34.5 months Florida state prison. Former Commissioner Martinez was found guilty of one count of Unlawful Compensation (a second-degree felony) and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Compensation (a third-degree felony) following a joint investigation conducted by the Office of the Inspector General and the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Public Corruption Unit.
OIG Report of Investigation Re: MDFR Employee Misused Official Position for Personal Financial Gain; Ref: IG21-0005-I
IG21-0005-I
OIG Report of Investigation Re: Investigative Follow-Up on Selected Findings from the Audit of the Greater Miami Service Corps, Inc. Ref: IG24-0001-I
IG24-0001-I
The OIG’s investigative follow-up of selected AMS audit findings found no evidence of intentional wrongdoing. However, the investigation revealed multiple irregular business practices and failures to comply with County policies and procedures, as well as a failure to issue required IRS filings.
Former Employee of the Department of Transportation and Public Works and his Wife Sentenced in Federal Court for Role in Bribery Scheme, Ref. IG21-0015-I
IG21-0015-I
OIG Memo to SPD re Standardization of Lump Sum Language
IG25-0001-O
Reappointment as Inspector General
Formal request to the Chair and the members of the Board of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade County to reappoint Felix Jimenez as the Inspector General.