Guilty and Not Guilty Verdicts in Rios Trial

For some of the residents of the Belize Condominium Complex at Cape Marco, it appeared that an anti-climax ending had been reached late on April 26. A jury of his peers would come back with a verdict of guilty on three Class Three Felony Charges against Victor Rios, their former Board President.

Rios was found guilty on three separate violations of 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 for each violation.

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. 

In 2019 the Association showed that 144 ballots were received out of the 148 owners eligible to vote during the election. Allegedly 16 of those ballots were never submitted by their owners, as detailed in a complaint filed with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) on April 26, 2019.  Of those sixteen owners, ten have filed Notarized Affidavits alleging fraud in the election process.

The DBPR immediately turned over the matter to the Marco Island Police Department due to the potential for possible criminal activity. Then Police Chief Al Schettino, due to the sensitivity of the matter, sought an impartial review of the matter and sent the case to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). After finding sufficient evidence of criminal activity, the FDLE sent the case to the State’s Attorney’s Office for prosecution. 

A separate sentencing hearing will be held within the next 60 days when Rios stands before Judge Christopher Brown, the same judge who heard the evidence brought against him during his three-day trial 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.