Angélica Pacheco, councilwoman of Hialeah, was arrested this Thursday and presented in a federal court in Miami on charges of healthcare fraud in the United States.
Chosen in November 2023, Pacheco pleaded not guilty during her appearance. This councilwoman is 37 years old and together with her husband Daniel Pacheco, manages a primary care and drug abuse rehabilitation clinic called Pacheco Medical Center, in Hialeah.
The Pacheco family received $500,000 from the federal Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic for four of their businesses.
On Wednesday, the councilwoman had posted a message on her social media, where she seemed to be referring to her imminent arrest and blamed the Hialeah administration for "anything that may happen to me." She acknowledged the federal charges and accused Hialeah Mayor Esteban Bovo of being behind them.
The federal charges against Angélica Pacheco could lead to her dismissal as a councilwoman. Governor DeSantis had previously suspended local elected officials accused of similar crimes. The statutes of Hialeah allow the Council to appoint another person to fill the vacant position.
The federal charges against Councilwoman Pacheco could trigger immediate consequences, according to former Miami-Dade mayor and political analyst Alex Penelas.
In case of suspension, the council would have 30 days to appoint a replacement. If not done, a special election would be called. Penelas also explained that if Pacheco is acquitted, she could return to her position until November 2027, even if an interim person is chosen.
The mayor of Hialeah, Esteban Bovo, described Pacheco's arrest as "a very sad chapter for the residents of our city." He emphasized that the federal indictment is not related to municipal functions and expressed his commitment to continue working to improve the quality of life in the city.
"It is a very sad chapter for the residents of Hialeah. This is a federal accusation that is not linked to the city's functions. This situation is highly embarrassing, but it will not deter us from our work to improve the quality of life and provide better services," Mayor Bovo concluded.
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