Friday, August 09, 2013

Jose Fuentes: You must do a better job on picking your partners. By Geniusofdespair

Jose Fuentes
Don't think Jose Fuentes is a good judge of character. Recently arrested Lobbyist Richard Candia (in the Pizzi probe) was in the Fuentes Lobbyist firm, acquired by Becker & Poliakoff.

One of Jose Fuentes previous partners was Frank Bernadino.  In 2005 the twosome opened the WREN Group, whose clients often had a stake in issues involving water or development.

Gimleteye had this to say about Frank Bernadino:
Frank Bernadino, the Fanjuls’ chief environmental lobbyist, is an unsavory character. In 1993, Bernadino was convicted of one count of sexual assault on a minor under 12 years of age, one count of sexual assault on a minor under 18 years of age, and one count of a lewd act on a victim under 16 years of age. He was held on $30,000 bond and was on parole from 1993-2000. In 2001, the court ordered his name removed from the sex offender list.

But in 2010, the federal government indicted Bernadino on 36 counts stemming from allegations of mail fraud, bribery and money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 715 years in prison and $11.5 million in fines. The federal government intends to seek forfeiture of $143,500, an amount alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offenses.  (In 2011, U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan found that the government had not shown criminal intent on Bernardino's behalf and threw out the charges.)

As for Becker & Poliakoff, just to compound a string of shitty decisions 1.) their entire Government Relations Team is said to have quit in February 2.) Replaced GR team with Fuentes & Candia. Now, word is, Becker & Poliakoff just hired Matt Pinzur.

From the Becker & Poliakoff website, Jose Fuentes left. You know that middle guy I would hope.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Too bad there isn't a referee who gives out red cards. Becker and Poliakoff should be out of the game. So should Greenberg Traurig.

Anonymous said...

Fuentes made a career out of "who he knows". Few stopped to verify his credentials. He had many acquaintances he passed off as friends. He is a pathetic little fellow.

Anonymous said...

Hard to imagine that Fuentes knew nothing about these deals...

Anonymous said...

How about that creep Steve Marin, the lobbyist who controls 2-3 City of Miami commissioners? Marin is currently trying to control the commissioner who takes over for termed out Spence-Jones.

Anonymous said...

All should be under house arrest w/ GPS collars.

Anonymous said...

It's difficult to fathom that B&P and Burgess knew nothing about this from the onset. For B&P to expose themselves in such a way seems strange. What do they (B&P) have to gain from this? At the least that their staff is not trustworthy. Burgess had little control of his people when he was pulling strings at County Hall. It appears he has little control of his people in his new position.

The rabbit hole is so strangely bifurcated in the 305.

Anonymous said...

When you work at a big firm, it is entirely conceivable that the partners wouldn't know what two consultants were doing.

What's not conceivable is that the guy you are tied at the hip with is somehow contacting your politician buddies in the cities, facilitating payments and bribes, collecting money for doing so, and you don't know squat about it????

Puhleeeez....

Anonymous said...

AGREED!

Anonymous said...

Anyone see Lynda Bell lately?

Cecil said...

MATT PINZUR?! You mean the Herald reporter who wrote nothing but puff pieces on Burgess and Alvarez and refused to report anything negative and was rewarded with a do-nothing six-figure gubmint job for his collusion? THAT MATT PINZUR?

Anonymous said...

Fuentes is heavily involved in Homestead which is a viper den of taxpayer abuse. He is very close with Wayne Rosen.

Anonymous said...

Given the toxic nature of our political environment, people need to be very careful about who they take pictures with. Get some nick-nacks, some punch, start a conversation with someone outside the photo, go to the restroom, anything but be in a picture with Gov. Scott. We are getting ready to clean him out, and rid ourselves of his supporters.