MIAMI.- Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrest of Heriberto Martinez, 36, former associate director of engineering for Jackson Health System (JHS), on charges of illegal compensation.
According to the DA’s press release, the arrest is the result of an initial audit of JHS that raised serious concerns. “The results of the audit were subsequently investigated by the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Public Corruption Section and prosecutors from the Public Corruption Division of the State Attorney’s Office.”
The investigation revealed that Martinez, in his role as a senior executive at JHS, accepted cash payments and gifts from a specific vendor, and in exchange, awarded JHS contracts to various companies operated by this vendor. The gifts included cash payments, airline tickets, and tickets to soccer games. Cash deposits totaling $65,610 were discovered in Martinez’s bank account on at least 19 occasions during 2020 and 2021. According to the report, the vendor is cooperating with criminal investigators in this case.
District Attorney Fernandez Rundle expressed her disappointment at the conduct of public employees who accept bribes and gifts from suppliers, emphasizing that these acts come from the pockets of Miami-Dade County taxpayers.
For his part, Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System, emphasized JHS’s zero-tolerance policy toward such conduct, highlighting the effectiveness of its internal audit process.
Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie Daniels praised the diligent work of all parties involved in the investigation and arrest of Martinez. “This case underscores the commitment of law enforcement and JHS to maintaining integrity and accountability in the use of public funds,” Daniels concluded.
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