Sternad Names Rivera In FEC Report

Disgraced Congressman David Rivera (R) used GOP consultant Ana Alliegro to work as Democratic candidate Justin Lamar Sternad's campaign. Sternad had no political experience or financing to run a congressional campaign. Rivera used Alliegro as a money courier to Sternad's campaign. The Miami Herald reports that Sternad has admitted to Rivera fundraising the campaign mailers in a Federal Elections Commission report.

“The contribution was given to me, in cash, by a third party from Ana Alliegro. I later discovered that Ana Alliegro was working with David Rivera,” Sternad wrote in an amended report that the FEC posted Jan. 30.

Sternad has been found guilty of 15 guilty plea on counts of accepting illegal campaign contributions. His sentencing has been postponed. The Miami Herald reports that Sternad is cooperating with federal investigators. Sternad's attorney Enrique “Rick” Yabor made this statement.

“To those who think this case has gone away: You’re wrong,” said Enrique “Rick” Yabor, an attorney for Sternad, who last month amended three of his FEC reports to note the involvement of Alliegro and Rivera in his 2012 Democratic primary race for Congressional District 26, which stretches from from Key West to Calle Ocho in Miami-Dade County.

Rivera allegedly funded Sternad's Democratic campaign in the hope that Sternad could beat Joe Garcia in the primary. Rivera was at the time receiving a great deal of negative publicity involving other corruption scandals. Rivera has been the subject of investigation by the FBI, IRS, Miami-Dade Police Public Corruption Unit, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

It appears the FBI is planning to use Sternad as a witness against Rivera.