Governor Formally Removes Manuel Maroño, Sweetwater Mayor

Submitted by Nancy Smith on January 25, 2014 - 12:53am

One day after the suspended mayor of Sweetwater, Manuel Maro, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for receiving $45,000 in a pay-to-play grant scheme, Gov. Rick Scott formally removed him from office.

On Friday the governor signed Executive Order 14-32 (see the attachment below).

Maro, once considered an up-and-comer who boasted of his friendship with Gov. Scott, pleaded guilty in November to an honest services conspiracy charge, admitting splitting the bribe with lobbyist Jorge Forte. The men were caught in an Aug. 6, 2013, sting operation in which government agents set up a fake federal grant program. Maro and Forte allegedly agreed to promote the program for economic development after they were paid.

Forte is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 6.

Two others facing similar kickback charges resulting from the same FBI sting operation are former Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and lobbyist Richard Candia, though both allegedly received far less money than Maro and Forte.

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