Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones sworn in while facing criminal allegations

COCONUT GROVE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A recently re-elected city commissioner was sworn in Thursday a day after officials announced she is under investigation.

Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones was sworn in for her second term all while facing some serious criminal allegations.

"It's absolutely not true," said Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones about some serious criminal allegations that have yet to be released to the public. All that can be revealed at this point is that there is an active criminal investigation, though City Hall is buzzing with speculation that an arrest is imminent.

"I'm not even sure where this is coming from. Unfortunately there are people out there who want to create this negativity around my great win. It's obvious that the people elected me at 82 percent," said Spence-Jones. "If there was something that would be happening to me, I would be the first to know."

The State Attorney's Office would not comment on this matter, but this is not the first time Spence-Jones has endured an investigation. In a completely separate case, Spence-Jones was investigated for allegedly funneling money from a condo project she had approved to two friends. After a lengthy ethics investigation, she was cleared of any wrongdoing.

In May of 2009, she held a press conference expressing her relief the investigation came to an end. "It's been almost two years of headaches and heartaches for me and my family, all based on innuendos and false allegations to divert attention form other's misdoings," she said at the press conference.

Spence-Jones represents District 5 of the City of Miami, which includes the neighborhoods of Liberty City, Overtown and Little Haiti. She was born and raised in Miami and has been credited for leading a charge to make sure the city benefited from the construction of the new Marlins Stadium.

She stepped in to her position in November of 2005 after Arthur Teele committed suicide in the lobby of the Miami Herald Building following allegations of corruption and scandals that dogged him.

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