A Message from the State Attorney |
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Dear Friend,
Every day, our prosecutors work to enforce the law while acting with fairness, integrity, and compassion, consistent with our core values. For everyone at your State Attorney’s Office, we believe public service to be a distinct public trust.
I spent the last week in Tallahassee speaking with legislators on a variety of proposed bills that are being considered this legislative session. Armed with the data and other necessary information to demonstrate the importance of addressing our concerns, I focused on the need to increase salaries for prosecutors and staff, the Homeowners Association (HOA) Reform (main bill sponsors Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez and Rep. Juan Carlos Porras), and the Child Witness Protection bills (sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess and Rep. Taylor Yarkosky).
I urged them to see how their support and vote will greatly impact our victims and communities.
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I also was grateful to the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) for having me as a guest on their Legislative Recap Podcast Miami-Dade Edition. It was a wonderful opportunity to share about our work at the SAO and the need to recognize the vital work of our prosecutors and staff by paying them the livable wage they deserve. I cannot thank the FSA enough for supporting my request for increased salaries for our dedicated personnel. (Click here to listen to the podcast).
We at the State Attorney’s Office are always conscious of our responsibility to do what is right for victims of crimes. The ability to process cases and take them to trial in an efficient and timely manner is critical to our efforts, as justice delayed is justice denied. By recruiting and retaining qualified prosecutors and support staff, we can better protect our community and serve the victims.
Thank you and God Bless,
Sincerely,
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Welcome to the SAO Family ! |
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle is proud to welcome our New Class of Assistant State Attorneys for Spring Class of 2023. Their career as prosecutors at SAO begins with our comprehensive six-week training program that prepares them for their first assignments in County Court and beyond.
The State Attorney was also proud to welcome 30 new support staff team members to our ranks. They will be working on behalf of our community in various essential roles throughout our office.
Every person at SAO contributes their unique talents and skills so that we can fulfill our mission and commitment to our community. We are excited to have such a wonderful group of dedicated individuals join the Best Team in America!
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Press Conference: Caregiver and Associate Charged with Exploitation of 97-Year-Old
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle held a press conference joined by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Senator Rene Garcia, City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales, SAO Chief of Investigations Emiliano Tamayo and members of the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Task Force, to announce the filing of criminal charges against 48 year-old Natsky Nelson, a home health services aide and 55-year-old Jose Pierre-Toussaint, her associate, in the theft of more than $216,000 from a 97-year-old Miami-Dade resident who has since passed away.
Both Jose Pierre-Toussaint & Natsky Nelson are being charged with:
• 1 count Grand Theft over $100,000
• 1 count Exploitation of the Elderly
• 1 count Organized Scheme to Defraud
Nelson is presently being held on $125,000 bond with a Nebbia requirement and had to surrender her passport. Pierre-Toussaint is still at-large.
"Every incident of elder exploitation touches our hearts and never fails to shock us. The reality is that these abuses occur behind closed doors, out of the public’s eye, and this case is a prime example of that," said State Attorney Fernandez Rundle. “Our Elder and Vulnerable Adult (EVA) Task Force is comprised of law enforcement agencies focused on the investigation and prosecution of crimes against elder and vulnerable adults in Miami-Dade County. I am proud to partner with Mayor Levine Cava, Senator Garcia and all our law enforcement partners on this important work. We will not allow these transgressions to go unnoticed and unpunished; not in our community."
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Association of Prosecuting Attorneys,
National Prosecutorial Summit
on Data Transparency
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was privileged and proud to deliver the Welcome Remarks at the National Prosecutorial Summit on Data Transparency and the Use of Data Dashboards co-sponsored by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA) and University of Miami College of Arts & Sciences.
The two day event included nationally renowned speakers and panelists from numerous District and State Attorneys’ Offices, colleges and universities, and U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, among others.
Our very own Chief Assistant State Attorney Stephen K. Talpins and SAO Data Specialist Eldys Dias were part of the panel titled “Using Data to Make Strategic Decisions on Resource Allocation and Policy Direction”.
The APA is a highly experienced leader in the field of nationwide training and technical assistance. APA’s membership includes prosecutors’ offices, elected, appointed, and line prosecutors, justice system professionals, and community partners. Through numerous projects, committees, advisory boards, partnerships, and collaborative efforts, APA is the national clearinghouse for innovative and effective prosecutorial practices.
The APA elevates promising and practical strategies to federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors as well as their justice and community partners to enhance prosecutorial excellence. In order to address disparities and inequities in the justice system, APA strives to elevate the voices of victims, survivors, their families, formerly incarcerated individuals, and others with lived experiences through meaningful community engagement. APA develops resources to help elected, mid-level, and line prosecutors implement model policies and practices.
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United in Reducing Trauma for
Child Victims and Witnesses
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and Sexual Battery Unit Division Chief Natalie Snyder hosted Kristi House Leadership Amanda Altman and Alan Potamkin for a meeting to discuss how Kristi House’s services can be strengthened and expanded to better meet the needs of our minor victims and witnesses who have experienced trauma.
The group also discussed how we can continue to work together to reduce the trauma brought about by the criminal justice system itself.
Kristi House operates the only Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) in Miami-Dade County, and is responsible for coordinating child-victims’ legal, medical, and social services needs. Kristi House provides an integrated solution for families navigating the complex services involved in the healing process, and is dedicated to eradicating child abuse and child sex trafficking - working nationally on solutions, and locally to heal child-victims.
The Center is nationally recognized for its evidence-based, therapeutic expertise in treating child trauma. The SAO’s Sexual Battery Unit staff is housed within Kristi House.
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Ex-Miami-Dade teacher gets 20 years after sex crimes conviction
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Presidente Supermarkets Co-Founder Guilty in
Killing of Ex-Wife's Lover
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‘Pillowcase rapist’ faces 17 years in prison,
and another case
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Former Miami-Dade HOA President
Accused of Stealing
Thousands of Dollars
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Miami Beach Doctor Arrested for Human Trafficking, Soliciting Sex With a Minor |
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Jury finds Miami Beach police officer guilty of battery during 2021 arrest
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"A World without Violence and Crime" |
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was honored to be the Keynote Speaker at the Global Innovative Foundation’s Annual Power & Influence Luncheon, sharing our latest efforts on the fight against human trafficking at their “A World without Violence and Crime” event.
“I am truly honored to have maintained a great partnership with Dr. Marie Etienne and the members of the Global Innovative Foundation, which I believe has contributed to the success in bringing our professional law enforcement partners and concerned citizens together, always with the goal of “A World without Violence and Crime”,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
“The Foundation’s work has reached new heights in our diverse community and has remained instrumental as we in law enforcement realize a greater level of safety for all who live, work, and visit Miami-Dade County.”
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SAO Human Trafficking Center |
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and members of her Human Trafficking Unit and Task Force hosted Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera, members of his staff, and Miami-Dade Police Department Midwest District Major Jose L. Aragu, for a meeting and tour of our Human Trafficking Building.
The State Attorney and her team shared information about the creation of the Human Trafficking Task Force, our missions and goals, current legislative bills in process, and conducted a tour of our first-of-its-kind Human Trafficking Building.
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SAO Human Trafficking Awareness Education |
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SAO Human Trafficking Unit Director Brenda Mezick, SAO HT Task Force Deputy Commander Alexandra Martinez, and Human Trafficking Special Victim Advocate Tanya Gennusa were invited to speak to students during a hybrid in-person and Zoom event at Barry University's School of Social Work.
Topics addressed included the legal aspects of prosecuting Human Trafficking cases and what we have learned about these over the past 10 years. The students also learned of the importance of our partnership with law enforcement, special operations, victims' services, community providers, and testimony from a survivor mentor who is now Director of her own non-profit, The Tree of Life Parenting Center, Gloria Martinez.
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International Women's Day 7th Annual Awards :
State Attorney Fernandez Rundle
Honored for Her Work
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was honored to be presented with the Government Affairs Award at the International Women’s Day 2023 7th Annual Awards event held in Coral Gables.
The State Attorney was recognized for her role as an innovator in her field and how she and her team have led in innovations in our State.
“I’m proud to receive this recognition for my efforts at adding and creating new directions and new perspectives within our criminal justice system,” said State Attorney Fernandez Rundle.
“Our creation of Florida’s first domestic crimes unit is now the statewide model, and we have created Florida’s only human trafficking center which not only brings a prosecutorial focus on the actions of those that wish to sell the lives and bodies of our young residents, but uses our multiagency prosecutor-police task force to take these individuals into custody.
We also created America’s first drug treatment court, opened people’s eyes to the fact that criminal courts can help individuals needing treatment for drugs, or mental health problems, or veterans suffering from PTSD re-integrate into our community. Our gun violence initiatives, co-locating prosecutors and police to quickly respond to acts of gun violence and create solid prosecutorial cases to get violent criminals off the streets of this community, are all trends that we have initiated here. All have already had both local and national impact in our efforts to help keep our community safe."
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle
Hosts General Consul of Dominican Republic
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez and members of her Leadership Team hosted a Meet and Greet with Geanilda Vasquez, Consul General of the Dominican Republic in Miami, and numerous local leaders of Dominican businesses and organizations, to share information about our office and working together for the good of our community.
"It was my honor and privilege to host the Consul General and members of her leadership in our community to share information about our office and working together for the good is our Dominican residents and businesses," commented State Attorney Fernandez Rundle. " I very much look forward to a wonderful partnership."
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Community Outreach in Action |
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Community Outreach Representative Angie Fernandez participated in the Miami-Dade County Consumer Protection Week closing event along with numerous community partners, sharing information on our programs and Identify Theft Prevention tips with participants and attendees.
For more information about our programs or to request our participation in a community event, please call 305-547-0724 or send an email to Communityoutreach@miamisao.com
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Community Outreach Representatives Angie Fernandez and Steve Machin delivered surplus toys from our Annual SAO-CABA Holiday Toy Drive to Holtz Children’s Hospital on behalf of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
A representative from the Child Life Team, Beth Behr, greeted our team members at the entrance to the Children’s Emergency Room to collect the toys.
Many of the children at Holtz are there to receive treatment or during recovery, and many are alone while their family members are at work. The toys will hopefully bring them some joy and distraction during their stay at the hospital, and brighten their day.
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Judge Fleur J. Lobree,
Florida Third District
Court of Appeals
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This month we highlight a distinguished
alumna of our SAO family.
We present our SAO Alumni Profile -
Judge Fleur J. Lobree
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The Defendant, who has a long-standing history of mental illness, was staying at an assisted living facility in November of 2008. His roommate was annoying him, so he walked outside, grabbed a white paver brick, and began beating him about the head. After the beating, the Defendant fled the ALF and was at large for over 45 days.
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