At least Richard Scruggs can always say he was the guy who got Yahweh Ben Yahweh, the notorious religious sect leader who was convicted of committing 14 murders, two attempted homicides, and a terrorist firebombing in 1992.But right now, the veteran prosecutor has lost his shine. While trying to prove…

A highly successful county-run boot camp for juvenile offenders could be shut down because of budget cuts. “Every year, this program is on the chopping block,” says Bertila Soto, the associate administrative judge for Miami-Dade Criminal Court. “This boot camp is vital. It is the only youth rehabilitation program of…

​Carlos Gimenez is wasting no time gearing up for his re-election run in 2012. As the mayor makes the rounds promoting his first county budget, his political action committee Common Sense Now is hard at work twisting arms and raising money.But a prominent Republican Brickell Avenue attorney could end up…

Last Thursday, we reported on the odd coincidence that a marketing consultant working on Marc Sarnoff’s re-election campaign shared the same business address as the private law practice of the Miami city commissioner.Our post prompted Sarnoff’s wife Theresa to submit an amendment to his most recent quarterly finance report changing…

Yesterday, we finally heard Donna Shalala comment on Hurricane Nevin, the category 5 storm of a man who released the Kraken on her and Canes nation. You’d think a lady who worked in the Clinton Administration would know how to do a little damage control. Instead, the University of Miami…

Sometimes lawyers are better off giving nosy reporters a “no comment.” Thankfully, Kent Harrison Robbins had plenty to say about the VIP decals distributed by Beach Towing, one of two universally reviled towing companies in Miami Beach.Robbins, who represents the company, says Beach Towing has handed out “thousands” of decals…

Editor’s Note: In this blog post, Miami New Times did not imply or intend to imply that Beach Towing violated the law by distributing VIP parking decals. Beach Towing’s attorney says the decals identify “the owners of vehicles who reside at certain condominiums in contrast to persons who are parked…

There is a new, mysterious player in Miami electioneering. According to Miami city Commissioner Marc Sarnoff’s most recent quarterly finance report, his re-election campaign paid $23,409 between May 11 and June 29 for “promotional materials” to a company called Rodman. The firm lists its address at 201 S. Biscayne Blvd.,…

Thirty years ago today, the Miami-Dade morgue had more dead bodies than it could handle. So to keep the surplus cadavers on ice, the medical examiner’s office leased a refrigerated truck. The $800-a-month rental was a symbol of Miami’s ignominious distinction as the nation’s murder capital, largely as a result…

In today’s Miami Herald, you’ll find an article by Miami City Hall beat reporter Charles Rabin that blathers on about Mayor Tomás Regalado’s allegedly unflappable resiliency. Rabin, late to the game by a week, notes Regalado is facing a recall threat from the police and fire unions as the city faces…

A dragon from the Far East has devoured the Miami Herald business section’s soul. Last week, the newspaper’s Business Monday pullout featured a five-page cover story and two side bars about the Genting Group, the Malaysian gambling conglomerate that wants to build a casino resort in downtown Miami.The investors already…

As the recall against her gains steam, North Bay Village Mayor Corina Esquijarosa continues to have personal financial problems. This past July 18, Capital One Bank filed a lawsuit against her in Miami-Dade Circuit Court alleging she owes a $3,859 unpaid credit card bill. The complaint gives more ammunition to…

On his first day returning to his “hard-worker roots,” Gov. Rick Scott got served. Yesterday, Florida’s leader was behind the counter of Nicola’s Donut Shop in Tampa taking and handing out orders as part of his image rehabilitation campaign to connect with regular folk ravaged by unemployment and his Tea…

In this week’s issue of New Times, you’ll read about a company called Miami-Dade County Short Sales that allegedly ripped off $2.4 million from out-of-state real estate investors last year. Two of the women suspected of being involved in the scheme have admitted to prior scams over the past 20…

The police union president who helped Tomas Regalado become Miami mayor in 2009 is now calling on his brothers and sisters in blue to oust the city’s embattled leader. Taking his cue from our recent cover story about the mayor’s failures, Armando Aguilar — President of the Miami Chapter of…

Opa-Locka could use some good news. Unfortunately, it’s not forthcoming. This past July 26, the city’s mayor Myra Taylor agreed to pay a $1,500 fine and receive a public reprimand from the Miami-Dade Ethics Commission.An investigation revealed that in 2009 and 2010, when Taylor was vice-mayor, she engaged in voting…

Two years ago, U.S. Century Bank earned the distinction as the bank with more insider deals than any other banking institution in Florida. Several U.S. Century board members and executives accounted for $110 million in insider loans at a bank with deposits of $1.5 billion in 2009.One of those insiders…