Miami Beach Officer Arrested On Racketeering Charges Bonds Out Of Jail
MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) – A six year veteran of the Miami Beach Police Department appeared in bond court Thursday morning, charged with racketeering, fraud, and official misconduct.
George Navarro Jr., turned himself in Wednesday and is also charged with two counts of false statement of financial condition and two counts each of obtaining a vehicle by trick and unlawful subleasing of a vehicle.
Bail was originally set at more than $150,000 but his attorney argued for a bond reduction on the merit of his professional record.
"He is an extraordinary and exemplary police officer and is deserving of the court's consideration," said attorney Michael Band.
Judge Jose Fernandez granted the reduced bond and set it at $88,500. Navarro Jr. was also ordered to surrender his passport and any other travel documentation. He bonded out of jail Thursday afternoon.
According to his arrest warrant, Navarro was one of 10 people involved in a scheme to defraud others through buying and leasing cars. The warrant said Navarro used misleading information on his credit application to buy a car at Lexus of North Miami. The warrant said he defaulted on the loan. It said a third party picked up the car and then Navarro Jr. filed a stolen vehicle report.
The allegations were a far cry from the description given by his attorney in bond court.
"This is an officer who led the department in arrests, officer of the month countless times, earned the medal of valor at his department," said Band.
The Miami Beach Police Department said information about his arrest and the investigation will come from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
A statement by Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond A. Martinez read, "This was an investigation initiated by the Miami Beach Police Department and it is part of the process of rooting out corruption in the department. I will not let the actions of one; tarnish this agency and the outstanding work that is done on an everyday basis by the men and women of the Miami Beach Police Department."
Navarro Jr. is the son of former Miami Beach police Cmdr. George Navarro Sr. who was the lead homicide detective in the infamous 1997 shooting death of designer Gianni Versace at his mansion on Ocean Drive. He also investigated the suicide death of Versace's assailant Andrew Cunanan. Navarro Sr. now works as the city's emergency manager.
After Thursday's hearing, George Navarro Sr. spoke to CBS4's Kara Kostanich said his son is innocent of these allegations.
"I believe in the justice system, it's not a perfect system, but it's the best," he told Kostanich.
Navarro Jr.'s attorney said his client is accused of being a "straw purchaser" who was allegedly associated with a ring of people leasing or purchasing cars then selling them or dismembering them and selling parts.
Navarro Jr. was on desk duty for months while under investigation but is now currently relieved of duty with pay
