HIALEAH, Florida — The Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has sued a Miami-area mayor who tried to pay a $4,000 fine with 28 buckets filled with pennies and nickels.
The commission also doubled the fine imposed on Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez, saying he intentionally broke the rules by sending them 360,000 coins on Nov. 6 even though he knew the panel only accepts checks.
According to a statement from the commission, a hearing on the complaint filed in small claims court is scheduled Dec. 9.
The commission ruled in July that Hernandez lied about his charge of usurious interest rates on a $180,000 loan to a jewelry salesman now jailed for a pyramid scheme.