North Miami Beach Mayor George Vallejo is facing criminal charges after authorities say he violated campaign finance laws by using donations for his 2015 campaign for personal expenses for himself and his wife.
Vallejo will plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of violating campaign laws and resign from office, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said in a statement Tuesday. He will also serve 90 days of house arrest with a GPS monitor, must complete 500 hours of community service and be sentenced to 18 months of probation.
The charges stem from Vallejo's 2015 unopposed re-election, when he solicited donations for a political committee created by his aunt named "Floridians for Progress," authorities said.
In May of 2015, the treasurer of the political committee wrote a $5,000 check to a Florida corporation formed in 2014 by Vallejo and his wife, Sandra Shinego. Authorities said the money was then moved to a Wyoming corporation owned by the couple, and was then largely spent on their personal expenses.
As part of his plea deal with prosecutors, Vallejo must also write a letter of apology to the North Miami Beach community and is prohibited from seeking office during his probation.
Vallejo has been mayor since 2011. He and his wife have two sons.
In a statement Tuesday, Vallejo said it was "an honor" to serve as mayor.
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"As proud as I am of our achievements, I am equally sorry for the events that bring me to court today," the statement read, in part. "I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the citizens of North Miami Beach and look forward to putting this matter behind me."
The city said Vice Mayor Beth Spiegel will serve as mayor after Vallejo's resignation.
