News


FDLE arrests former prosecutor for bribery

 
For Immediate Release
February 12, 2020
 
HIALEAH, Fla. – Acting on an arrest warrant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, officers of the Miami-Dade Police Department today arrested Juan Mercado, 29, of Hialeah, on charges of bribery.  Mercado was an assistant state attorney with the 20th Judicial Circuit. 
 
The FDLE investigation showed that Mercado had a sexual relationship with a woman in exchange for offering to help with her pending criminal case in the 20th Judicial Circuit. The woman was being prosecuted for domestic battery, and Mercado offered to “make her case go away” in exchange for sex.  Mercado was not the assigned prosecutor on the case, but did access records and provided information and advice to the woman. ​
 
Mercado was booked into the Miami-Dade Jail. The Office of the State Attorney, 12th Judicial Circuit, will prosecute the case.
 
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Jessica Cary or Jeremy Burns
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001

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FDLE is composed of five areas: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism and Florida Capitol Police. FDLE’s duties, responsibilities and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, FS, and Chapter 11, FAC. To learn more about these areas, read our Statement of Agency Organization and Operation or visit our Open Government page.