U.S. Atty. Guy A. Lewis annouced Oct. 27 that a grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging former Miami Police Chief and City Manager Donald H. Warshaw with conspiracy and mail fraud. He also served on Bd. of the Miami Police Relief & Pension Fund, which is connected to a local of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The indictment alleges that as an officer and board member on the pension fund, Warshaw had a fiduciary responsibility to act honestly and faithfully in all of his dealings with the pension fund, and to perform his duties free from fraud, self-enrichment and self-dealing. Warshaw is charged with having breached that duty by defrauding the pension fund of its monies.
The indictment then describes a scheme to defraud that extended from May 1993 until at least Apr. 1999 through which Warshaw, who had signing authority over the bank accounts, funneled pension fund monies to himself. Specifically, it alleges that Warshaw made personal charges to credit cards of the pension fund. This and a related charity scheme resulted in a net gain to Warshaw of $80,000. [USAO S.D. Fla., Media Release 9/27/00]