Former City Councilor Rios Found Guilty of Charges

After a two and a half day trial in the Collier County Court House, former Marco Island City Councilor Victor Rios was found guilty of three separate felony counts regarding Florida State Statute 817.568 (2) (a) That statute reads; Any person who willfully and without authorization fraudulently uses, or possesses with intent to fraudulently use, personal identification information concerning another person without first obtaining that person’s consent, commits the offense of fraudulent use of personal information, which is a third-degree felony and is punishable by a fine of $5,000 and up to five years in prison per count.

He was also found not guilty as charged on two separate felony counts concerning violations under Florida Statute 831.01 regarding the forging, altering of public records, and/or certificates which is a third-degree felony and carries a fine of $5,000 and up to five years in prison per count. 

Rios’ charges were brought about as part of an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement upon a referral from the Department of Business and Professional Regulations. The DBPR referred the case to FDLE for an investigation as condo owners reported alleged improprieties regarding a condominium board election at the Belize Condominiums at the Cape Marco Complex at the south end of Marco Island in 2019.

That subsequent investigation would result in the arrest of Mr. Rios in February of 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida where he was in residence after selling his Belize property and moving there in the Fall of 2020.

Sentencing will be held in the next 60 days before Judge Christopher Brown in the Collier County Court. Stay abreast of this story and other breaking Collier County and Marco Island News at www.coastalbreezenews.com or on our Facebook page.