MIAMI (AP) — A former maintenance chief at Miami International Airport has pleaded guilty to federal theft charges involving the fraudulent purchase of thousands of lighting fixtures.
Federal court documents show 46-year-old Ivan Valdes pleaded guilty Wednesday and faces a maximum of seven years in prison. Valdes was maintenance division director for the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department and is also facing state bribery, bid tampering and other charges.
The total fraud was estimated at about $5.2 million.
Prosecutors say Valdes conspired with lighting company executives and other airport employees to receive kickbacks from the rigged purchase of more than 9,000 lighting fixtures over a five-year period. Four other defendants face various fraud conspiracy charges.
Sentencing for Valdes is set for Jan. 5 in Miami federal court.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.