FBI at Opa-locka City Hall in Corruption Investigation

FBI agents are executing a search warrant at the city hall in Opa-locka in what investigators are calling a public corruption probe.

Miami FBI spokesman Mike Leverock says agents from the public corruption unit started their search about 9:30 a.m. Thursday. He says no arrests are expected immediately and no details about the investigation are being released.

"We feel like we have the most corrupted city in Dade County. They do what they want with the money and they don't want to answer to nobody," said former Commissioner Steve Barrett.

Earlier media reports say the FBI has been investigating potential kickback schemes involving Opa-locka officials as well as the questionable financing of the $8 million Town Center One project. Opa-locka's city finances have also been troubled.

Officials from the top down, including the city's Mayor Myra Taylor, are under close scrutiny. She left when the feds showed up and no one answered the door at her gated Opa-locka home.

Last November, the newly-appointed city manager was ousted by the commission, after exposing the city was millions of dollars in debt. Steve Shiver is now a part of this investigation and released a video statement staying: "I pointed out several irregularities and things that just didn't make sense about their financial systems there. At this point I hope and pray that our justice system will rapidly resolve this issue."

Leverock says the FBI encourages anyone to come forward who may have information about public corruption, or may have been a victim of an illegal scheme by a public official.