David Rivera ran secret campaign, Sternad tells FBI
By Manny Garcia and Marc Caputo
From The Miami Herald
Justin Lamar Sternad, whose failed congressional campaign became the subject of a federal grand-jury investigation, has told the FBI that U.S. Rep. David Rivera was secretly behind his run for office, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald have learned.
Sternad, 35, also told authorities that his campaign manager, Ana Sol Alliegro, acted as the conduit between the campaign and Rivera, who allegedly steered unreported cash to the Democrat’s campaign, according to sources familiar with the investigation and records shared with The Herald.
Sternad said Alliegro referred to the congressman by his initials, “D.R.,” and called him by the nickname, “The Gangster.”
“We will respond when these so-called ‘sources’ are willing to go on the record,” said attorney Michael R. Band, who represents Rivera. “We are not going to respond to unfounded rumors and innuendo. My client is in the middle of an election and it’s unfair for us to be shadow-boxing with unnamed sources.”
Sternad’s account to federal authorities supports what two campaign vendors told The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald: that the congressman was the driver behind a botched attempt to plant a candidate in the District 26 congressional primary.
Sternad has acknowledged to the feds that he never met Rivera, the sources said, a point that the Republican congressman has long claimed.
But Sternad — using Facebook and Twitter — found pictures of Alliegro and Rivera together and determined that Rivera was the mystery “investor” so enthralled with his candidacy. The political newcomer — a night-time hotel worker — said he continued with the scheme because Alliegro told him that “D.R.” would get him a better job to support his wife and five kids if he lost.
Now, instead of a better job, Sternad is facing a possible indictment.
Sternad declined comment on Tuesday, referring calls to his attorney Rick Yabor, who also declined to comment.
Sternad’s cooperation comes at a time when Alliegro has disappeared from public view after promising her lawyer and federal authorities to give a truthful statement of what transpired almost three weeks ago. Her lawyer still has not heard from her. Sternad’s statement also contradicts Rivera’s claim that he had nothing to do with his campaign.
To read the full Miami Herald report click here.
