Former Miami-Dade School Board vice chair Lubby Navarro is scheduled to face a jury next Tuesday, with prosecutors accusing her of turning district purchasing cards into a personal spending pipeline. Authorities allege that in 2022 she used school funds for vacations, shopping and other non-school expenses, and say some of the charges were traced to her then-boyfriend’s restaurant. Navarro, who stepped down from the board in late 2022, has pleaded not guilty and remains under court-ordered restrictions as the case heads to trial, currently set to begin next Tuesday, April 7.
Judge Sets Trial Date
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Miguel De La O has set jury selection and the start of trial for next Tuesday, according to the Miami Herald. The scheduling follows a string of pretrial hearings and filings in which prosecutors previewed their evidence and laid out how they say the spending pattern unfolded.
Prosecutors Lay Out Allegations
Prosecutors contend Navarro racked up roughly $100,000 in personal expenses on district purchasing cards in 2022, including hotel stays, retail purchases and trips, according to WLRN. Investigators say the alleged scheme came into focus after district staff pored over expense records following her resignation from the board.
Evidence Includes Silicone Props and Tracking Devices
Among the items described by prosecutors are two artificial silicone pregnancy "bellies" and small tracking devices that authorities say Navarro bought to manipulate and monitor a then-boyfriend, as reported by CBS Miami. Prosecutors also allege that some of the purchasing card charges were funneled to the boyfriend’s restaurant, which they cite as evidence the spending was personal rather than for district business.
Charges And Possible Penalties
Navarro faces multiple counts, including organized fraud and grand theft, according to arrest records and reporting by Local 10. Under Florida Statutes, a scheme to defraud involving property valued at $50,000 or more can be charged as a first-degree felony, which carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
Background And What's Next
Navarro was first appointed to the Miami-Dade School Board in 2015 and later won election to full terms, and the Office of the Inspector General has cataloged her arrest and related investigative steps, according to the Miami-Dade OIG. With a trial date now set, the court is expected to lock in deadlines for witness lists, exhibits and jury selection, and both prosecution and defense are likely to keep filing pretrial motions as opening statements draw closer.
Navarro’s attorneys say she has complied with her bond conditions and remains on electronic monitoring, according to Local 10. District officials and the inspector general’s office have indicated the criminal case has already triggered a fresh look at purchasing card controls and could spur additional audits, as WLRN reported.
