Carlos Irizarry, a former Kissimmee City Commissioner who was accused of being a 'ghost' candidate in a County Commission election race last year, was found guilty Tuesday afternoon of 14 criminal charges levied due to campaign finance reporting violations in that 2022 race.
County Judge Christine Arendas sentenced him to 180 days in jail; Irizarry was immediately sent to the Osceola County Jail to begin serving it after Tuesday's trial and verdict. As part of the sentence, he also received six months probation, must serve 120 hours of community service and is responsible for about $3,800 in court fees.
The 14 charges included eight for willful certificate of false or incomplete campaign treasurer's reports, and six for deliberate failure to include proper campaign information required by state statute.
During trial Tuesday, Irizarry said he did not personally keep track of his campaign expenses.
Irizarry pled not guilty on all counts after he was arrested in May after a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation concluded that he mis-represented his campaign finances. In that 2022 County Commission district 4 campaign, he finished third in a race against incumbent Cheryl Grieb, the winner, and fellow challenger Jackie Espinosa, a downtown Kissimmee businessperson who claimed Irizarry was put in the race solely to dilute the Hispanic vote. Irizarry garnered 12.7% of the vote, Espinosa 38.9% and Grieb won with 48% in the August election that was a winner-take-all race on the primary ballot because all candidates were from one major party (Democrat).
Among the FDLE findings from May, Irizarry, "Did willfully certify the correctness of a campaign treasurer's report while knowing that such report was incorrect, false or incomplete, contrary to (Florida statute 106)" on occasions between June and August 2022. He entered the district 4 race in early March 2022, and served as his own campaign treasurer, which is legal under Florida law.
"Irizarry had certified these campaign treasurer's reports knowing they contained false information in violation of Florida Statutes chapter 106.07(5)," the report compiled by FDLE investigator David Snowden said. The report also stated he, "Did knowingly fail to report an expenditure required to be reported by (State Statute) Chapter 106," and that expenditures listed on campaign reports didn't align with bank records, which showed expenditures at two spas and a hair salon. He also listed two donations to a religious organization's food pantry, but the FDLE interviewed its pastor, who said Irizarry had not made any charitable donations from the campaign.
As an act to, "Try and find justice for the community," Espinosa filed a lawsuit against Irizarry, Grieb and Osceola's election Canvassing Board, noting Irizarry's place as a 'ghost candidate.' It was dismissed, but is running its course through the 6th District Court of Appeals, awaiting oral arguments.
"It's still not over. The criminal investigation ended last night, but this is Phase One of this investigation," she said. "This is bittersweet, there is no winner when someone ends up in jail. We were friends, but he made a wrong decision to jump into a race for reasons he shouldn't. We're mourning with him, losing a member of our community for not doing the right thing. But it will set precedent for the future that this shouldn't be allowed."
