Bond Reduced For Former County Employees Accused Of Defrauding Taxpayers
MIAMI (CBS4) - Two former Miami-Dade County employees accused of defrauding taxpayers out of million of dollars had their bonds reduced Thursday
A judge set bond at $750,000 each for Jesus "Jay" Pons and Bruno Diaz.
In court Thursday, Diaz's family wiped away tears and his mother said she'd use her lifesavings to bond him out.
Pons' sister said she'd be willing to put up cash and properties she owns with her husband to get her brother released from jail.
"This money did not come out of any of the accounts that you hold with your brother, Mr. Jesus Pons, the defendant in this case," the prosecutor asked.
Pons' sister responded, "No, absolutely not."
Pons and Diaz both face a slew of charges including racketeering, fraud and dozens of counts of official misconduct.
Pons' wife, Diana, was also arrested and charged in connection to the case.
One point of contention Thursday was whether Pons' Coral Gables home, which police raided earlier this week, could be used as collateral.
"The state's position, other than the fact that it's just not right, is that that home really belongs to the people of Miami-Dade County," the prosecutor said.
County taxpayers have already paid dearly, according to State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle.
"This thievery was occurring during the most difficult time for our community," Fernandez-Rundle said Tuesday.
Pons and Diaz both worked for county's Internal Services Department, resigned until last year.
Investigator said Pons used schemes ranging from bogus invoices to ghost employees to cheat taxpayers out of at least $6 million.
He accepted kickbacks from an IT company contracted by the county, Fernandez-Rundle said.
Prosecutors said pons lived a lavish lifestyle on the taxpayers' dime and now they plan to seize his home.
"They are not to rely on property that was derived from criminal wrongdoing," one attorney said. "There's just something inherently dirty about it.
