Ex-GOP lawmaker convicted in so-called 'ghost candidate' vote-siphoning case: reports

A former Florida state lawmaker has been convicted on three charges after prosecutors said he offered $50,000 to a so-called "ghost candidate" to run for office in Florida four years ago and siphon votes away from the Democratic incumbent.

A Miami-Dade jury convicted former Republican state Sen. Frank Artiles around 7 p.m. Monday of campaign contributions exceeding $1,000, campaign contributions conspiracy and ethics code false swearing to an oath, CBS News reported. He faces up to five years in prison on each count when sentenced Oct. 21.

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Alex Rodríguez, who has no affilitation to the baseball player, testified that he was offered $25,000 to run as a no-party candidate before the election and another $25,000 to be paid out after. The scheme aimed to confuse voters in Florida Senate District 37, with Rodriguez running against Democratic incumbent, state Sen. Jose Javier Rodríguez and Republican candidate Ileana García.

Alex Rodríguez received more than 6,000 votes.

Attorneys for Artiles maintained that running a ghost candidate scheme is not unlawful, and insisted Rodriguez coerced and lied to Artiles to give him money, according to Local 10.