Nearly 11 months after a jury returned two guilty verdicts in a corruption case, former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez was sentenced Monday to 34-and-a-half months in prison.

"Mr. Martinez is adjudicated guilty and is sentenced to 34.5 months in state prison on each count.  The counts will run concurrently to each other, and Mr. Martinez will receive credit for any time that he served in jail," the judge said.

Defense attorney Ben Kuehne said they are appealing the decision.

"The judge recognized that this case has so many legal issues that bond pending the appeal is appropriate.  Mr. Martinez has been on bond since this case was brought in 2023. He will continue to be on bond until the appeal is finalized, which will take an estimated year, maybe longer," he said. 

In November 2024, Martinez was found guilty of unlawful compensation and conspiracy after he was accused of accepting bribes in exchange for political influence. Both are third-degree felonies punishable by up to five years in prison each.

Statement from Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle

"Today's sentencing of former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez completes a process started when a local jury of six members of our community found him guilty of using his political position to provide himself a financial benefit. It is always a community disappointment when an elected official chooses to work for his own personal interests over the interests of those who elected him."

Who is Joe Martinez and what did he do?

Martinez had served on the Miami-Dade County Commission on and off since 2000. 

He gave up his seat in 2012 for an unsuccessful run for county mayor, and then failed in a 2014 Republican campaign for Congress. He was elected to rejoin the county commission in 2016 and was reelected in 2020.

Before going into politics, he was a former police lieutenant with a 17-year career in the force. He had also considered running for Miami-Dade Sheriff after voters decided to bring back the post, but he ultimately lost in the Republican primary in 2024.

According to a 2022 arrest affidavit, Martinez was charged with unlawful compensation and conspiracy to commit unlawful compensation, and surrendered to jail in August 2022 on the charges involving $15,000 in payments from the owner of a local supermarket who faced substantial fines due to code violations related to excessive storage containers on the property.

After charges were brought against him, Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Martinez from his position on the county commission.

Prosecutors alleged that, in return for the payment, Martinez had promised to push favorable legislation before the Miami-Dade County Commission; however, the proposed legislation was never brought to a vote.

The prosecution also argued that Martinez attempted to exploit his public office for personal gain.

Martinez's defense countered by portraying the former commissioner as a dedicated public servant with a long record of integrity.