The commission found that a violation of the ethics code had been committed when Diaz purchased a 1.3 acre estate in Coconut Grove, valued at $3.1 million, with City Manager Joe Arriola and Commissioner Johnny Winton two years ago.

Arriola has since resigned his post as city manager. Winton was arrested and forced out of office in 2006 for assaulting two police officers while intoxicated at an airport terminal.

The no contest plea means the mayor is not pleading guilty, but also not disputing the facts, according to Robert Meyers, executive director of the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust. Diaz was fined $250 and will be issued a letter of reprimand.

With a plea of ‘no contest’ entered it is unlikely Diaz’s legal representation will appeal the decision, Meyers told the SunPost. 

“He engaged in prohibited investing by the ethics code,” Meyers said Thursday. “The code says he cannot put his private interests ahead of the public interest, and he’s not disputing the facts.”

The real estate arrangement was brought before the ethics commission due to cries of a conflict-of-interest as Diaz retains the power to fire the city manager at will. Winton also proposed a $53,000 pay raise for Diaz.