North Miami mayor Andre Pierre’s nephew, Ricardo Brutus is in a bit of a pickle.  For starters, on March 25, 2011, he got himself arrested right in the middle of managing his uncle’s campaign for re-election.  As the Miami Herald reported in it’s recent story, Audiotapes, video hint at corruption in North Miami, Brutus implicated his uncle in a campaign finance fraud scheme by accepting donations into a third party account.

HINT at corruption?  Ya think?

Talk about an understatement.  Anyone who lives in or near North Miami and happens to read the Herald or the Miami New Times already knows that mayor Pierre’s city is rife with corruption.  Starting at the top.  In fact, the mayor has put North Miami on the global map, and not in a good way.  You know when you make the news at the Huffington Post for being a mayor in foreclosure, it’s always a bad sign.  Still, even with all the other crap he pulls on a daily basis – both unethical and possibly illegal, so far he’s gotten away with everything.  So far.  Hopefully, the FDLE is keeping its file open on Andre Pierre because sooner or later something’s bound to stick.

For the mayor’s nephew and former campaign manager, Ricardo Brutus, however, the day of reckoning has arrived.

A search of Criminal Court records shows that he is scheduled to come before Judge William Thomas for an arraignment hearing on May 18, 2012 at the Justice Center.

Brutus is charged with five, count ’em five, FELONIES, including impersonating a lawyer, grand theft and organized fraud.  I hope he has a better attorney than the one he pretended to be.

Let’s also hope that this case also helps expose the rest of the corruption in North Miami.  Starting with Brutus’ uncle, Hizzoner Andre Pierre.

Ironically, Ricardo was recently interviewed by the Miami Herald for a story regarding voter fraud when his name popped up on the state’s potential non-voter list of illegal aliens who fraudulently obtained voter registration cards.  The column published on May 9, 2012 stated,

“In Miami-Dade, voters like Brutus are thankful for the thoroughness of the state. A Democrat, he said he voted for President Obama in his first election in 2008 and Alex Sink in her failed gubernatorial bid in 2010.

“I’m ready to vote again,” Brutus said.

Strangely, the Herald republished the same column the very next day, editing out all reference to Ricardo Brutus and inserting what appears to be an alternative interview of a woman in Aventura.  I wonder why?  Is it possible that mayor Andre Pierre’s nephew/former campaign manager may not be eligible to vote after all?  I’m just saying.

Whether Ricardo Brutus is a citizen or not, his relief over being able to vote again may have been premature.  If he’s convicted of any one of his five felonies, he’ll lose his voting rights anyway.

And, voter fraud notwithstanding, you can’t apply for an absentee ballot from the hoosegow.

Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”

P.S.  For added fun, you can access Ricardo Brutus’ arrest information and mug shot here, and Spread the Wealth via Twitter and Facebook.