Former Hialeah City Council member Angelica Pacheco pleaded guilty Monday to one count of making false statements to authorities.
According to the original indictment, Pacheco initially faced eight counts related to health care fraud committed through Florida Life, a substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation center for which she was a beneficial owner.
Prosecutors said that in Florida Life’s loan forgiveness application to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Pacheco helped falsely certify that loan funds were used exclusively for eligible expenses, including $54,946 in payroll costs between Feb. 9, 2021, and July 26, 2021, when, in fact, and as the defendant knew at the time, Florida Life did not pay that amount.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 16.
The maximum penalty for the charge is five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Pacheco surrendered to the FBI in June 2024. Days after being charged, she told Marilys Llanos in an exclusive interview that she was innocent of all charges and said she would prove her innocence.
At the time, Pacheco claimed the allegations were part of a conspiracy orchestrated by then-Mayor Esteban Bovo to remove her from the political arena.
“This is something orchestrated by the mayor to take me out of circulation,” Pacheco said, adding that her determination to report irregularities in the city and expose benefits obtained by lobbyists, developers and builders led to what she described as false accusations.
Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo later issued a statement and held a news conference on the case, saying, “It is an unfortunate day for residents as we await federal authorities to continue their investigation against Councilwoman Pacheco. The federal charges filed against the councilwoman are not related to her role as an elected official for the City of Hialeah.”