MIAMI — A trial date has been set for North Miami Beach Mayor Anthony DeFillipo, who is accused of illegally voting three times last year in a district where he was not allowed to cast a ballot.
Through his attorney, DeFillipo pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Friday. The trial is scheduled for Sept. 5.
DeFillipo’s attorney Michael Pizzi said the allegations against his client were false and he plans to file a motion to dismiss the case. “Today begins the road to Mayor DeFillipo’s exoneration and vindication,” Pizzi said in a statement.
DeFillipo was arrested on May 31 at his North Miami Beach condo on allegations he voted outside his registered area three times. The arrest came amid allegations that DeFillipo lives in Davie, which he has repeatedly denied. The North Miami Beach city charter requires elected officials to live in the city.
Despite filing documents to update his address with the North Miami Beach clerk in 2021, he did not change his address with the Department of Motor Vehicles until December 2022, according to an arrest warrant. Florida law requires a change be made within 30 days. DeFillipo also had not changed his address with the Miami-Dade County Elections Department until after he voted in the elections, the warrant said.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said her office used cell phone data to track DeFillipo driving from Davie to North Miami Beach, where he cast ballots to vote in elections in August, October and November.
A week after his arrest, Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended DeFillipo from his post. A special election to fill DeFillipo’s seat has not been set.
