MIAMI (AP) - A close associate of former U.S. Rep. David Rivera has been denied bail a second time on charges of violating federal campaign finance laws.
U.S. District Judge Robert Scola on Wednesday ordered 44-year-old Ana Alliegro to remain jailed until her June trial. A magistrate judge previously denied bail. Alliegro was arrested in Nicaragua and prosecutors say she’s a flight risk.
Alliegro is charged with illegally funneling over $80,000 to the 2012 Democratic U.S. House primary campaign of political unknown Justin Lamar Sternad. Sternad has pleaded guilty campaign finance violations and is cooperating with prosecutors.
The case centers on whether Sternad was a straw candidate being used to weaken Democrat Joe Garcia, who eventually defeated Rivera for South Florida’s 26th District U.S. House seat.
Rivera, a Republican, has denied any wrongdoing.
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