Florida Ex-Senator Faces 60 Days in Jail for Role in ‘Ghost Candidate’ Plot

Frank Artiles will not be serving his sentence immediately, as a judge has agreed to postpone it while the defense appeals the verdict.

By Sheenu Gupta On Nov 19, 2024 Share with new partner:

Frank Artiles, a former Marine and Republican state senator, was sentenced on Monday to 60 days in jail, five years of probation, and 500 hours of community service.

Artiles had been convicted the previous month of masterminding a “ghost candidate” scheme that is believed to have influenced a state election, potentially swaying the results in favor of a Republican by stealing votes from a Democrat.

However, it will likely be some time before Artiles, 51, serves his jail sentence or begins his community service, which includes mentoring military veterans. After reading the sentence, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Miguel de la O agreed to delay the enforcement of the sentence until after Artiles’ defense team has had the opportunity to appeal the verdict in a higher court. This means that Artiles’ legal challenges could postpone the start of his sentence, leaving uncertainty about when or if he will begin his punishment.

In addition to the jail time, probation, and community service, the judge’s order also prohibits Frank Artiles from engaging in any future political work. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Miguel de la O made it clear that Artiles would be barred from participating in political activities going forward.

At the conclusion of the sentencing, the judge read a prepared statement in which he expressed his agreement with the jury’s verdict. However, de la O emphasized that his decision on sentencing was not influenced by political considerations, asserting that he kept the focus solely on the legal aspects of the case rather than any political motivations.

“I think our tribal, poisoned politics got the better of Mr. Artiles and he lost sight of right and wrong. Although the money was nice, I suspect the rush of beating the other side was also motivation,” said de la O, who also told Artiles he can no longer participate in politics other than voting. “No consulting, no fundraising, nothing.”

After the sentencing, Frank Artiles and his family swiftly left the courthouse without making any statements to the media. Outside the courtroom, Artiles’ defense attorney, Jose Quinon, spoke to reporters and expressed that the past four years had been incredibly difficult for the former legislator’s family.

He described the experience as a challenging period, during which the family had been subjected to a constant barrage of media attention and negative publicity. Quinon noted the emotional toll that the public scrutiny had taken on them throughout the legal proceedings.

“He’s been punished quite a lot,” Quinon said.

Lead state prosecutor Tim VanderGiesen and co-counsel William Gonzalez, who played a key role in securing the conviction following a two-week trial in October, also left the courthouse promptly and without making any comments after the sentencing.

Meanwhile, Artiles’ defense attorneys vowed to appeal the verdict, indicating that they would continue to challenge the decision in the higher courts. The quick departure of both the prosecution team and the defense underscored the tension surrounding the case, with the legal battle far from over.