David Rivera

Former Rep. Garcia's Chief Gets Home Confinement, Probation

The campaign manager and later chief of staff of former Miami Congressman Joe Garcia has been sentenced to eight months of home confinement, two years of probation and a $1,000 fine for a misdemeanor elections law violation.

A federal judge sentenced Jeffrey Garcia, no relation, on Monday. Garcia pleaded guilty in June to illegally financing tea party candidate Jose Rolando Arrojo. The Miami Herald reports that the plan was to use Arrojo to siphon votes from Republican David Rivera, benefiting Democrat Joe Garcia.

Rivera ultimately won in 2010, but Garcia won the seat in 2012.

Arrojo was also sentenced Monday to one year of probation with six months of home confinement for the same conspiracy.

Jeffrey Garcia previously served 65 days in jail in 2013 after pleading guilty to submitting online absentee-ballot requests for unknowing voters in 2012.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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