Miami, Florida, February 9, 2024 – Former Miami-Dade School Board member Lubby Navarro in court for her arraignment at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building in Miami, Florida,
SAM NAVARRO
Special for the Miami Herald
A public corruption case filled with allegations of luxury trips, secret tracking devices and a fake pregnancy is set to reach its end as the trial for former Miami-Dade School Board vice chairwoman Lubby Navarro is slated for early April.
On Thursday, Judge Miguel de la O set the trial to start on April 7.
Navarro, 50, was arrested in 2024 following a months-long investigation into her use of district-issued credit cards. Prosecutors allege that over the course of 2022, she spent up to $100,000 on personal expenses — money that was intended to support public education.
She has pleaded not guilty.
According to investigators, the charges included a mix of routine retail purchases and more lavish spending. Authorities say Navarro used the cards for shopping trips at major retailers, as well as for travel, including a stay at a luxury Las Vegas hotel and a trip to the Dominican Republic. Some of the expenses, they allege, benefited not just Navarro but also people close to her, including her boyfriend.
Among those purchases were appliances and equipment that authorities say ended up at her boyfriend’s restaurant, as well as a series of personal items that raised further questions.
Perhaps most striking were allegations that Navarro bought silicone pregnancy props and tracking devices. Prosecutors claim the items were part of an effort to manipulate and monitor her then-boyfriend.
READ MORE: Lubby Navarro says in court she’s not guilty of fraud, stealing $100K in public money
The investigation began after Navarro resigned from the School Board in late 2022. When expense reports for her final month were reviewed, discrepancies surfaced, prompting a deeper audit. Authorities later said some records appeared to have been altered or obscured, allowing the spending to go unnoticed for months.
Her original arrest warrant stretched 98 pages.
Navarro, who had served on the board since 2015 and was briefly elected vice chair shortly before her resignation, was ultimately charged with multiple counts related to fraud and misuse of public funds.
Miami Herald
Milena Malaver covers crime and breaking news for the Miami Herald. She was born and raised in Miami-Dade and is a graduate of Florida International University. She joined the Herald shortly after graduating.