Warrant: NFL players’ stickup victims recant after payoffs in lawmaker’s office

The case against two NFL football players accused of armed robbery in Miramar took a twist after it was revealed that detectives believe four victims recanted after being paid a total of $55,000 in cash — at the office of a South Florida defense lawyer and state lawmaker.

That attorney: Michael Grieco, who represents accused Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar. Grieco, a Democrat, won a seat in the state House in 2018. He is also a former Miami Beach city commissioner, having resigned in 2017 after pleading no contest to a criminal charge over a campaignfinance violation.

The allegation about the payoff was revealed Friday night by the New York Daily News, which obtained a search warrant filed in Broward Circuit court. The Miami Herald, on Saturday, obtained Miramar police reports that detail the same allegations — and reveal that, as of last month anyway, Grieco was under criminal investigation.

“Grieco’s office was the background that facilitated a cash transaction that later obstructed the integrity of an investigation,” said one of the police reports, which added that evidence is still being collected and “the final charging decision will rest with the Broward County State Attorney.” The report was filed in early

June.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which was assisting in the probe, did not believe

Grieco’s actions rose “to the level of criminal behavior,” according to the reports.

Tania Rues, a spokeswoman for Miramar police, said she could not comment on whether the department is still investigating Grieco — who represents a district that covers Miami Beach, North Bay Village, Little Havana and parts of downtown Miami — because the wider investigation into the robbery is ongoing. The Miami Herald

Baker

Dunbar