In an interview with the State Attorney's office last October, client Reverend Gaston Smith explained that Miami City Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones used him to get money from a County grant without his knowledge. Reverend Smith created a non-profit organization in 2005 at the urging of Spence-Jones and Spence-Jones then allegedly assisted with arranging for the organization to receive the Miami-Dade County grant. Spence-Jones was provided $8,000 in consulting fees out of the grant funds. The interview with the State attorney's office was secretly recorded by a Miami-Dade police detective without the knowledge of Reverend Smith or his attorneys.

Reverend Smith is currently awaiting trial on one count of grand theft related to alleged personal spending of the county grant funds. Reverend Smith has proclaimed his innocence. It is unclear whether Spence-Jones will be charged.

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