Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and Sweetwater Mayor Manuel "Manny" Marono were arrested on Tuesday after allegations of extortion, ABC News reports.
Both Pizzi and Marono were taken into custody by the FBI and were allegedly involved in separate schemes.
"Our democracy suffers when, as alleged in these cases, elected officials use their power and political influence for personal gain instead of for the public good," U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said in a statement.
According to ABC News, federal prosecutors allege Pizzi and lobbyist Richard F. Candia were involved in a bribery plan involving federal grants for Miami Lakes and Medley. Pizzi is a lawyer for Medley.
An indictment team claims Marono and Jorge L. Forte, a lobbyist, were taking part in a bribery scheme for federal grants for Sweetwater.
According to The Sacramento Bee, Marono and Forte thought they were dining with Chicago businessmen when they accepted a $10,000 cash bribe back in March. And in July, Pizzi met with Candia to accept a $3,000 bribe. Little did the mayors and Forte know that both incidents were part of a federal undercover operation.
The FBI believes that both mayors were intending to keep the cash for themselves instead of putting it towards federal grant applications in their respective towns. Their conversations were recorded via phone taps and by undercover agents.
Gov. Scott has since ordered both mayors to be suspended from office. They currently face charges of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.
Pizzi was elected in 2008 and is in his second mayoral term. He is a lawyer who formerly worked for a criminal defense firm in Miami. Morono has been mayor since 2003 and also contributed to Governor Rick Scott's team in 2011. He is the president of the Florida League of Cities.
