Former Miami procurement director arrested on corruption charges

Miami Beach’s former procurement director Gus Lopez has been arrested on corruption charges, according to the Miami Herald. Lopez is accused of  taking tens of thousands of dollars in payoffs from a consultant in exchange for leaking sensitive information  on competitors to construction companies, attempting to win bids with the city’s “Job Order Contracting” program. Lopez’s wife and the consultant, Pierre Landrin, were also arrested today on charges of  money laundering, racketeering and other felonies.

Investigators uncovered at least 12 companies looking to bid with the city that paid Landrin and who in turn paid Lopez. But ultimately Landrin turned on Lopez, allowing investigators to secretly record him slipping Lopez $3,450 in cash.

The investigation began in March, after Lopez resigned from his position as the city’s procurement director following accusations of  misconduct surrounding the district redevelopment deal at the Miami Beach Convention Center. [Miami Herald] —Christopher Cameron