Former Orange County commissioner Mildred Fernandez was sentenced on Thursday, to the minimum prison time in her racketeering and bribery case.
Judge Jeffery Arnold in handing down the sentence told Fernandez that although Orange County had benefited from her service, “unfortunately you made a very bad decision which did violate the laws of the state of Florida.”
In 2010, in her bid to become Orange County mayor, Fernandez was caught on tape accepting campaign contributions of $1,000 in exchange for fast tracking a proposed development project, prosecutors say.
Fernandez maintained her innocence throughout and felt she has been used as a scapegoat. But, last month, rather than face a trial, she pleaded no contest to eight charges, in exchange for several others that were dropped.
Before Judge Arnold imposed the sentence, Fernandez addressed the court saying she regretted the situation.
“I am so very, very sorry about all of this situation, your honor, my hopes that my life is not completely destroyed, in your professional, competent, experienced and merciful hands,” she said, cfnews.com reported.
Fernandez will serve her time in a state prison.
I doesn’t matter whether you are a male or a female, or if you are from any other country. Justice has been served. If you the crime, you’ll do the time.