7th person convicted in Florida city corruption scandal

MIAMI – A seventh person has pleaded guilty in a wide-ranging corruption scandal in a Florida city.

Court records show Dante Starks pleaded guilty Monday in Miami federal court to a bribery conspiracy charge and failing to file his 2015 federal income tax return. His sentencing is scheduled for August.

Starks wasn’t an Opa-locka city employee, but prosecutors say he had great influence over former City Commissioner Luis Santiago. Prosecutors say Starks conspired with Santiago, former city manager David Chiverton and former assistant public works director Gregory Harris to take money from businesses and individuals in exchange for help with official city dealings.

Santiago, Chiverton and Harris were previously convicted, as well as Raul Sosa Sr., Raul Sosa Jr. and Demetrius Corleon Taylor, who’s the son of Opa-locka Mayor Myra Taylor.