MIAMI — Former Miami-Dade School Board Vice Chair Lubby Navarro is headed to prison.
As part of a deal with prosecutors, the 51-year-old former elected official pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a third-degree grand theft charge in connection with a 2024 corruption case in which authorities accused her of racking up about $100,000 in personal purchases on a district credit card.
Prosecutors alleged Navarro used the official card to buy food, groceries, appliances, vacations and more.
At least two of the purchases veered into the bizarre: Investigators said she bought a pair of “artificial silicone pregnancy bellies” after a breakup with her boyfriend in an apparent attempt by the then-48-year-old to convince him she was expecting, during a period in which she followed and harassed him.
Before the breakup, authorities allege she used the district card to buy items for his Hollywood smoothie business.
As part of Navarro’s plea, prosecutors agreed to drop an additional grand theft charge, plus two organized fraud charges. Under the agreement, she’s sentenced to spend 14 months in prison followed by probation.
She’ll also have to pay more than $101,000 in restitution.
Navarro can’t run for office during her three-year probation term, which can be terminated halfway through for good behavior.
Authorities took her into custody immediately after Tuesday’s court hearing.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle issued a statement after the plea Tuesday, saying in part that Navarro has “admitted her guilt and has accepted her sentence” instead of “seeking to avoid the consequences of her actions.”
“Let there be no doubt that I and my public corruption team of prosecutors and investigators will continue ensuring that our government operates for the people of Miami-Dade County, not for the financial benefit of those holding office or position,” Fernandez Rundle said.
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