Miami Beach officer bonds out, charged with racketeering

MIAMI (WSVN) -- A South Florida police officer has posted bond after allegedly being involved in a ring of crimes that is still under investigation.

According to prosecutors, Miami Beach Police Officer George Navarro Jr. was allegedly part of a ring that would purchase or lease vehicles with fraudulent documents, then sell them to other countries where they were discovered to have been stolen.

"Mr. Navarro, Officer Navarro, has been a police officer for the City of Miami Beach for, I think, six or seven years," said Navarro's attorney Michael Band. "We have been aware of this investigation."

Navarro is the son of former Miami Beach Police commander George Navarro Sr., who was the lead investigator in the Gianni Versace murder case in 1997.

According to police, the vehicles that were involved were high-end cars. Band said, "His allegation is, in this ring, to get leased automobiles or maybe even bought automobiles, where they wouldn't have to pay for it. He went in, leased two vehicles. That's an involvement. I think according to your arrest affidavit, he received a total of $3,000."

After Navarro posted bond he exited the courtroom from a side door.

The case remains an ongoing investigation.

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