By Associated Press - Friday, May 16, 2014

MIAMI (AP) - An associate of former U.S. Rep. David Rivera plans to appeal a judge’s ruling denying her release on bail on charges of campaign finance laws.

The attorney for Ana Alliegro has filed court papers saying she will take her case to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Two Miami judges have ordered her jailed until trial as a flight risk.

Alliegro is charged with illegally funneling over $80,000 to the 2012 Democratic 26th District House primary campaign of political unknown Justin Lamar Sternad. Sternad has pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations.

The case centers on whether Alliegro and Rivera used Sternad as a straw candidate to weaken Democrat Joe Garcia, who eventually won the seat.

Rivera, a Republican, has denied any wrongdoing and is running for the seat again.

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