Miami-Dade fugitive shot dead in Texas

The manhunt for escaped convict Alberto Morales ended early Saturday in a hail of gunfire as the fugitive was cornered by police and shot and killed in a small town in Texas.

Authorities said Morales, who had somehow slipped out of his handcuffs since escaping police Monday, lunged at the officers with wooden sticks, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Morales, 41, had been on the run since overpowering a Miami-Dade police detective, stab him with his eyeglasses and disappear from a Walmart in a Dallas suburb. Two Miami-Dade detectives had been escorting Morales, a violent sex offender, to a Las Vegas prison at the time of his escape.

“Obviously, we are very relieved,’’ Miami-Dade Deputy Mayor Genaro “Chip” Iglesias said Saturday. “We are relieved that he will not be able to hurt anybody else.’’

The detective, Jaime Pardinas, survived but suffered a collapsed lung.

Iglesias said he had just returned from Dallas about 1:30 a.m. Saturday when he got the calls that Morales has been killed. He and Miami-Dade police Deputy Director Juan Perez flew to Dallas on Thursday. Hundreds of law enforcement officers, including about a dozen from Miami, had been hunting Morales for days.

Morales’ capture came shortly after midnight in a residential lakefront community in Grapevine, Texas, north of Dallas.

Police descended on a home, responding to a burglary call. Men’s clothes and jewelry had been taken from the residence, police said in a statement.

The neighborhood was just three miles from the Walmart where Morales was last seen, fleeing Miami-Dade police detectives.

Morales, who was on Texas’ 10-most wanted list, was spotted in a wooded area where he tried to flee but was killed by a fugitive task force which had been tracking him for days, said Grapevine police Sgt. Robert Eberling.

He did not immediately release details, saying that more information would become public later Saturday.

Morales, a schizophrenic with a long history of violence, was being transported back to Las Vegas Monday to finish a 30-years to life prison term for sexual assault. Miami-Dade police had extradited him four years ago from Las Vegas to be tried on rape charges. He was convicted of sexually assaulting and kidnapping two Miami women in 2003.

Morales’ Nevada attorney, Marc Saggese said his client suffered a severe brain injury when he was hit in the head with a baseball bat when he was 17 and told him that he has heard voices ever since.

“He said that ever since that attack and subsequent surgeries he has struggling demons in his head,” Saggese told The Associated Press.

While in a jail medical ward, Morales mutilated his genitals and scrawled words in blood on the wall. He underwent a psychological examination by doctors at a Nevada state mental hospital in Sparks, but he was found competent to stand trial, the attorney said.

Two Miami-Dade detectives, Pardinas and David Carrero, were assigned to transport Morales via commercial plane on Monday. However, when the plane made a scheduled layover in Houston, Morales was kicked off because he had been causing a disturbance by banging his head against the seats in front and behind him.

At that point, the detectives launched “Plan B” which was to transport him 15,000 miles to Las Vegas in a rental vehicle. With Morales in handcuffs attached to a belly belt, they loaded the 5-foot-7 convict into a rented SUV, headed north toward Dallas, where they planned to stop at the airport to pick up another Miami-Dade detective who was going to assist him. The plan, which was authorized by supervisors, required a third detective for a ground transport.

Pardinas and Carrero arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport ahead of their colleague so they decided to drive to a nearby Walmart to use the restroom. About 11 p.m. Carrero entered the store, with Pardinas in the SUV guarding Morales.

Suddenly Morales lunged at Pardinas and stabbed him several times in the neck with the sharp end of his broken eyeglass frame. Pardinas, still reeling in pain, called 911, his breathing labored, as he described Morales. The fugitive was also captured on the store’s surveillance cameras running through the parking lot.

Iglesias said a thorough review of is under way.

“Regardless of what happened, it’s clear he escaped so something went wrong.’’

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Oscars Flashback: Drew Barrymore 1983

Considering that Drew Barrymore turns 38 today, it's fascinating to think that she attended her first Oscars thirty years ago. At the 1983 Oscars, the charming, young actress is adorable as ever as she is interviewed on the red carpet.

Although she had won a Young Artist Award for best actress for her performance in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Barrymore didn't receive a nomination for an individual award at her first Oscars despite the majority consensus that she should have.

VIDEO: Drew Barrymore Opens Up About Motherhood

However, the film, her second feature in her young acting career, was nominated for Best Picture at that year's Academy Awards.

With her sweet and sassy personality, 8-year-old Barrymore arrives to Hollywood's biggest celebration wearing a hot pink dress designed by her "momma" with a bow in her hair and a pearl necklace that was given to her by E.T. director Steven Spielberg.

"I don't know if it will win, but I'm hoping so much!" she says enthusiastically of the Oscar-nominated film.

VIDEO: Oscars Flashback '86: 10-Year-Old Angelina Jolie

Also nominated that April evening was the film's director, Spielberg, for whom she reveals she voted in addition to voting for the film. As for the Best Actress category, which was loaded with talented actresses Meryl Streep, Julie Andrews, and Jessica Lange, Barrymore wasn't too interested.

"I'm not nominated," she replies with a smile when asked about her vote for Best Actress.

Two years later, Barrymore received her first major awards show nomination at the Golden Globes for the 1984 film Irreconcilable Differences. Despite more Globes nominations over the years, she has never been nominated for an Oscar.

VIDEO: Oscars Flashback '83: Pregnant Meryl Wins Actress

However, twenty-seven years after her first Oscars, Barrymore won her first major awards (Golden Globes, SAG Awards) for Grey Gardens.

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Playgrounds to honor Newtown massacre victims being built in communities recovering from Hurricane Sandy

TRENTON, NJ — The state's largest firefighter union is remembering the 26 victims of December's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre in Connecticut by building a playground to honor each one in a community recovering from Superstorm Sandy.

New Jersey and New York will get 10 playgrounds each, and Connecticut will get six. Each playground will link the two tragedies with the shared name Sandy to create memorials for recovery and hope.

One of the playgrounds will honor 6-year-old Catherine Hubbard, who would stretch out her legs to reach up to the clouds after pushing off on her backyard tire swing and was hopping mad about leaving her beloved swing set behind when her family moved across Newtown, Conn., in October, two months before the mass shooting there.

AP

Noah Pozner

Catherine's mom, Jenny Hubbard, said the idea for the playgrounds felt right as soon as she heard it — a playground was the "perfect" memorial for a 6-year-old.

"I immediately could think of Catherine playing and swinging," she said Friday in a telephone interview. "I know that Catherine will be there and she will love that there are kids to play with on that playground. In a way, this is like us giving her back her swing set."

Bill Lavin, president of the Firefighters' Mutual Benevolent Association, a 5,000-member union spearheading the project, said each playground will reflect the personality of the child or teacher for whom it is named. Jack Pinto's will have a football theme because he was a New York Giants fan. Chase Kowalski's will have fitness stations because he competed in children's triathlons. Others, still in the early planning stages, may incorporate a victim's fondness for a particular color, activity or symbol.

Grace McDonald's playground will be decorated with peace signs, which she habitually drew on mirrors and windows when they fogged up. Grace's mom found the outline of one on a window at home shortly after she died and had the glass etched in pink and preserved.

Catherine's playground, to be built on New York's Staten Island, will have a tire swing and be near a beach because of her fondness for sea animals. Her 8-year-old brother, Fred, is the honorary project foreman; he'll be on site with a tool belt supervising as the playground is built by volunteer first responders and members of the community.

Lavin said he's reached out to all 26 families and has heard back from 14, all supportive. He's driven to Connecticut to meet with several families personally. After visiting Noah Pozner's family, he decided Noah's playground should be in New York in the Rockaway section of Queens, where his grandfather lives.

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Sign up for Feb. 21 Miami Herald Small Business Forum

Prepare your best pitch for the Miami Herald’s Small Business Forum, Feb. 21 at the south campus of our sponsor, Florida International University.

In addition to how-to panels and inspirational stories from successful entrepreneurs, our annual small business forum will include interactive opportunities with experts to learn about financing options and polish your personal and business brands.

During our finance panel, audience volunteers will be invited to explain their financing needs to the group. During our box-lunch session, they will be invited to pitch their business or personal brand to our coaches.

Those who prefer just to listen will be treated to a keynote address by Alberto Perlman, co-founder of the global fitness craze Zumba. Panels include success stories from the local entrepreneurs who founded Sedano’s, Jennifer’s Homemade and ReStockIt.com; finance tips from experts in small business loans, venture capital, angel investments and traditional bank loans; and insiders in the burgeoning South Florida tech start-up scene.

Plus, it’s a real bargain. $25 includes the half-day seminar, continental breakfast and a box lunch.

Register here.

Program

8 a.m.

Registration and continental breakfast, provided by Bill Hansen Catering

8:30 a.m. Welcome

Host: David Suarez, president and CEO, Interactive Training Solutions, LLC

•  Jerry Haar, PhD, associate dean & director, FIU Eugenio Pino and Family Global

Entrepreneurship Center

•  Alice Horn, executive director, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE South Florida)

•  Jane Wooldridge, Business editor, The Miami Herald

Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge Overview:

•  Nancy Dahlberg, Business Plan Challenge coordinator, The Miami Herald

8:45 a.m. Session I – Success Stories

Moderator: Jerry Haar, PhD, associate dean & director, FIU Eugenio Pino and Family Global

Entrepreneurship Center

Speakers:

•  Jennifer Behar, founder, Jennifer’s Homemade

•  Matt Kuttler, co-president of ReStockIt.com

•  Javier Herrán, chief marketing officer, Sedano’s Supermarkets

10 a.m. Session II – All about Tech

Moderator: Jane Wooldridge, Business editor, The Miami Herald

Speakers

•  Susan Amat, founder, Launch Pad Tech

•  Nancy Borkowski, executive director, Health Management Programs, Chapman Graduate School of

Business, Florida International University

•  Chris Fleck, vice president of mobility solutions at Citrix and a director of the South Florida Tech Alliance

•  Charles Irizarry, co-founder and director of product architecture, Rokk3r Labs

11:15 a.m. Keynote

Speaker: Alberto Perlman, CEO and co-founder of Zumba® Fitness

Introduction: Jane Wooldridge, business editor, The Miami Herald

11:45 a.m. Session III – Show me the money: Financing your small business

An interactive session featuring audience volunteers who will be invited to make a short investment pitch before a panel, including experts in microlending, SBA loans, traditional bank loans, venture capital and angel investing. Audience volunteers should come prepared with a two-minute presentation that includes details about current backing, how much money they are seeking and a brief synosis of ow that money would be used.

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Boss of alleged Miami-Dade pot ring plans to plead guilty to conspiracy charges

Derrick Santiesteban, the boss of an alleged marijuana growhouse ring that authorities say made millions off selling potent pot between Miami and New York, faces his reckoning Friday afternoon.

He plans to plead guilty to conspiracy charges along with his wife, Yadira, in Miami federal court, according to public records.

Raul Ramirez, a growhouse caretaker for the Santiesteban family, is also expected to plead guilty.

Last week, a Santiesteban relative pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute marijuana and to kidnap a rival gang member, admitting he witnessed the man’s murder after the target stole 50 pounds of pot from the Miami-Dade clan.

Juan Felipe Castaneda’s plea agreement signaled a major development in the federal government’s crackdown on one of South Florida’s largest suspected growhouse operations.

The Santiestebans — headed by the patriarch, Mariel boatlift refugee Gilberto Sr., and joined by sons Derrick, Gilberto Jr., Alexander and Darvis — were charged last June with operating 20 hydroponic marijuana growhouses since 2004. The operation yielded at least 1,146 potent pot plants that produced millions in profits, authorities say.

Castaneda admitted he collaborated with alleged ringleader Derrick Santiesteban, accused shooter Norge Manduley and other members of the syndicate in June 2009, when they kidnapped Fidel Ruz Moreno after carjacking his van.

While en route to one of Santiesteban’s grow houses in southwest Miami-Dade, Castaneda witnessed Manduley struggle with Ruz in the back of the van and then shoot him with a revolver, Castaneda said in a court statement.

Castaneda said that after Ruz’s body was tossed out into the street, he saw Manduley “approach [the] prone body and repeatedly strike [Ruz] about the head with the butt of revolver that Manduley was wielding,” according to a statement filed with the plea agreement in Miami federal court.

Castaneda, a growhouse caretaker who fled the area last June when FBI agents arrested most of the 16 Santiesteban-syndicate members, was the first defendant to plead guilty to the main charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants. He also pleaded guilty to the kidnapping conspiracy.

In April, he faces a minimum-mandatory sentence of 10 years for the drug charge and up to life in prison for the kidnapping. His cooperation with prosecutors William Athas and Pat Sullivan is helping them put pressure on other defendants to cut plea deals.

The Ruz kidnapping and slaying — along with the possibility of a second, unrelated homicide, as well as suspicions that a Miami-Dade police officer was working with the Santiesteban clan —elevated the case beyond a routine pot-trafficking investigation.

At a detention hearing, Athas and Sullivan described Derrick Santiesteban, the lead defendant in the case, as the “mastermind behind the [Ruz] kidnapping.”

Investigators are zeroing in on a Miami-Dade officer who is suspected of playing a role in the family’s alleged drug syndicate. The officer, Roderick Silva, worked patrol in the Hammocks area of West Kendall. He was suspended with pay in June 2009, records show. He is the brother of another of the Santiestebans’ accused growhouse caretakers, David Silva.

Homicide detectives are also trying to determine whether an unsolved April 2006 slaying of a teenager in West Kendall is linked to an alleged Santiesteban growhouse in the area.

After going to visit a girlfriend near Southwest 172nd Terrace and 153rd Place, Angelo Lopera, 17, was attacked and shot multiple times. Police believe Lopera may have been killed because he was mistakenly suspected of visiting the neighborhood to steal marijuana plants from the Santiestebans’ house at 17231 SW 153rd Pl., according to sources familiar with the probe.

The Santiesteban indictment was built around a dozen cooperating witnesses, most of whom were involved in the family’s alleged drug organization and have or will be separately charged, court records show.

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Nicole Sullivan Talks Wendell and Vinnie

Certain actors have locked in lifetime loyalty with me based on previous projects or their general fabulousness. In the case of Nicole Sullivan, both apply, and my enduring love for the comedian is leading my TV to new pastures. Namely, Nick at Nite!

Starting this Saturday, Sullivan stars alongside iCarly's Jerry Trainor on Nick at Nite's newest series, Wendell & Vinnie. The two play siblings whose brother dies, orphaning his 13-year-old son, Wendell. That is until the court makes the immature Vinnie Wendell's legal guardian, much to the shock of all involved. I caught up with Sullivan to find out why comedy is where her heart lies and why people should be excited about her latest series!

ETonline: What appealed to you about this show?

Nicole Sullivan: Working with Jerry Trainor was the first thing. He is such a ridiculously talented guy; so funny and can mine comedy from anything. And I've been around long enough that I don't want to work with jerks anymore. I really like the people at Nickelodeon. They're kind and that's a big deal to me at this point.

PHOTOS - Celebs Snuggle Up To Their Adorable Kids

ETonline: Must also be nice to be on a show your kids can watch.

Sullivan: Yeah. Although, I've just started showing them the cartoons I do voices in and they're startlingly unimpressed [laughs]. They're very "meh" about it. I think a kids instinct is not to enjoy their parents in any capacity.

ETonline: How do you describe your character, Wilma?

Sullivan: She's a hard-nosed, successful lawyer. At one point she decided she would be successful no matter what, and that no matter what is coming back to haunt her: she's single, has no family and I think she longs for that, but it's not quite in her DNA yet. She's ticked off they left Wendell to her brother because, growing up, she always felt like their parents loved her brother more. Like she got the raw end of the deal -- but at the end of the day, she understands that their match is meant to be.

VIDEO - What Nicole Sullivan Gained From Losing Weight

ETonline: Wendell films in front of a live audience while Cougar Town (on which she has a recurring role) does not. From an acting perspective, is one superior?

Sullivan: They both have their advantages. With single camera, you can do one line 12 different ways -- just wildly different takes. But with a live audience, you want to make sure they have the coverage they need and the performance you want. But I must say, the joy of hearing an audience laugh is unequaled

ETonline: What are you excited for people to see with Wendell & Vinnie?

Sullivan: To be super simple, but super honest about it, this show is really, really funny. It's just four actors who are really good at telling jokes, so if you want a good laugh, tune in -- you won't be disappointed!

Wendell & Vinnie: "Gift of Underpants"

Wendell & Vinnie premieres February 16 at 8 p.m. on Nick at Nite.

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Month-long school bus strike could end as soon as tonight: sources

The embattled school bus drivers’ union could call off its month-long strike as early as tonight — during a member-wide conference call with top union officials, sources said.

Amid several significant setbacks, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181 President Michael Cordiello is expected to tell the 9,000 striking bus drivers, matrons and mechanics that the union will take steps to “live to fight another day,” according to a source close to the union.

Stephen Yang

School buses are parked in a lot in Ridgewood, Queens.

“He wouldn’t be doing this [call] to be telling everyone we’re going to fight this ‘til death,” said the source.

“There’s dissention on the picket lines. They can’t live on what they’re getting paid,” added the source. “People want to go back [to work].”

The work stoppage was launched January 16 in response to the city’s removing long-held job protections for bus workers from contracts that cover 1,100 of the school system’s 6,700 school-age bus routes.

The city said it was eliminating the protections because they were deemed illegal by the state’s highest court, and also to lower the costs of the $1 billion school bus system.

But over the past four weeks, school attendance has gradually returned to nearly normal at all schools except those serving special education students.

This week, bids for the 1,100 routes at the heart of the battle were submitted and opened without incident — many coming in at lower costs compared to current contracts.

This evening’s call comes on the same day that the union garnered political cover for ending the strike from five mayoral candidates — who signed a letter promising to seek other forms of job security for school bus workers if they’re elected.

“We pledge... to revisit the school bus transportation system and contracts and take effective action to insure that the important job security, wages and benefits of your members are protected within the bidding process, while at the same time are fiscally responsible for taxpayers,” reads the letter to the union.

It was signed by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, Comptroller John Liu, former Comptroller Bill Thompson and former City Council Member Sal Albanese.

By the time a new mayor takes over, however, Local 1181 would have lost as many as 2,300 positions for drivers, matrons and mechanics on the 1,100 routes that were rebid.

Those contracts are expected to be awarded to bus companies in coming months.

A source involved in bus strike issues said the pledge by mayoral hopefuls would likely be accomplished not by fiddling with contracts between the city and bus companies, but by asking the state legislature to insert job protections for bus workers into state law.

“This is not a serious letter,” the source said. “No one’s talking about undoing any contracts.”

The source also said the letter was organized by the ATU’s International arm — whose president will be on today’s conference call — to put pressure on the local union to get members back to work.

“They [the international] solicited people to sign it,” the source said.

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In Key West, women earn more than men

Key West is one of just four cities in the United States where the median income for women exceeds that of men, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The American Community Survey, which goes beyond population figures and analyzes comparative social, economic and educational data, found that nationwide, men older than 16 working full-time and year-round earn an average of $47,233.

The same group of women on average earns around 78 percent of that, $37,199.

But it's different in Key West; Sebring, Fla.,; Madera, Calif.; and Fort Payne, Ala., according to survey data from 2011, the most recent figures released.

In the Southernmost City, women on average earn $33,956 while men earn $31,716.

Tiffany Horton, director of sales at the Ocean Key Resort and Spa and formerly the revenue manager for the Marriot Beachside, pointed to Key West's hospitality-driven economy as an explanation.

"I think it's a great area of success for women because of their compassion and their motherly instinct," she said. "In hospitality, sales and the hotel industry, you have to relate to so many different people and understand different personalities and work with them."

In Sebring, total earnings for both groups are slightly less but women still out-earn men, taking in an average of $28,677 compared to $27,094.

Jodi Weinhofer, executive director of the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys and Key West, noted there are many high-level female executives and managers in Key West's hospitality industry, as well as numerous female guesthouse owners.

"I do think the hospitality industry is somewhat blind to men and women," she said. "In hospitality, it doesn't matter who you are. Across the board, it's all about performance."

Catherine Hill, director of research for the American Association of University Women, said of the comparative pay levels, "The big issue is what type of industries you have in that city."

"Every industry has its own drivers in terms of where you see higher wages, lower wages, more equality, and food service or hospitality is one of those," she said. "There's also such a thing as a culture. In some communities, you see a much more level playing field."

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Crime Watch: Steer clear of these latest email scams

Today I want to share with you some interesting scam emails shared by readers. We truly need to be super-careful and not open or respond to any of them.

I personally got the one from Kabul and had to laugh because this was a new one for me. I am not showing the email address, but trust me it looked very official especially when I do have friends that are stationed in Kabul. Here is the email I got:

Subj: Greetings from Kabul.. ... .

Hello,

I am CPT. Greg Hooper an officer of the U.S Army presently serving with the 395th CSSB peace keeping forces in Afghanistan. You may not know me but i really need your help as i have some very important packages to ship to you for safekeeping until i return back home to the USA.

I will explain in details only if you meet my conditions. Thanks for your prayers & support as we hope to return in one piece!!

CPT. Greg Hooper.

The second email I want to share came from a read who had some very good suggestions and its really worth sharing, since he had a personal experience with the email. Here is what he had to say:

Dear Carmen:

Thank you for your article in The Miami Herald on Jan. 6, 2013, titled "Two email scams you shouldn’t fall for." I haven’t seen the second one you mentioned yet, but I’ve received the first one several times over the last two or three years. It’s amazing how many of my friends and acquaintances have been robbed overseas in the last few years!

I’m writing because I thought there was one element to the scam that I thought important to be emphasized, and, if you ever decide to re-publicize the information, I’d suggest including it. Sometimes, when I’ve received those e-mails, they are not only from someone I know, but the email address in the "FROM" line is identical to the email address of the friend who is supposedly writing to me. This instantly leads a person to trust that the email is legitimate. And, since a quick "reply to" will allow the recipient to verify that it’s true, it’s easy to fall for it.

However, when you hit "reply to", the e-mail address to which the message will be sent is NOT the same as the one from which it appeared to have been sent. The address changes — very, very subtly.

For example, I could receive a message from a friend at "FRIEND101@gmail.com", but, when I hit "reply to", the message will be sent to "FRIEMD101@gmail.com" (the "N" was subtly changed to a "M") or "FRlEND101@gmail.com" (the capital "I" has been changed to a lower-case "L"). So if I sent an email to the person using "reply to", asking "is this true?!?", I would likely receive a message back from the scammer verifying it’s fictitious validity.

Thanks for listening and for aiming to protect the public!

Jeff Rothkopf

Folks, like I always say the Internet is a wonderful form of communication, but it brings its dangers, therefore we all must be vigilant and astute when using it.

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3 NYers plead guilty in Nazi reparation case

Three people have pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to participating in a scheme that defrauded a Holocaust reparations organization of more than $57 million.

Prosecutors said Moysey and Dora Kucher and Genrikh Kolontyrskiy pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to defraud programs administered by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

The Kuchers are married.

The three Brooklyn residents were arrested in 2011. They're among 22 people who have pleaded guilty in the case.

Court papers say the three conspired to defraud two funds managed by the organization.

Sentencing will be Aug. 8.

Kolontyrskiy faces up to 40 years in prison. The Kuchers each face up to 20 years in prison.

Their lawyers didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

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American Airlines, US Airways announce merger

After a nearly yearlong courtship, the union became official Thursday: American Airlines and US Airways have formally announced plans to merge.

An early morning announcement by the airlines confirmed reports widely circulated after boards of both companies approved the merger late Wednesday.

The move brings stability to one of Miami-Dade County’s largest private employers more than a year after the airline and its parent company filed for bankruptcy protection, leaving the fate of thousands of employees — and the largest carrier at Miami International Airport — in question.

According to the Thursday announcement, the deal was approved unanimously by the boards of both companies, creating the world’s biggest airline with implied market value of nearly $11 billion, based on the Wednesday closing price of US Airways stock. The airline will have close to 100,000 employees, 1,500 aircraft, $38.7 billion in combined revenue.

The deal must be approved by American’s bankruptcy judge and antitrust regulators, but no major hurdles are expected. The process is expected to take about six months, according to a letter sent to employees Thursday by American CEO Tom Horton.

Travelers won’t notice immediate changes. The new airline will be called American Airlines. It likely will be months before the frequent-flier programs are merged, and possibly years before the two airlines are fully combined. The new airline will be a member of the oneWorld airlines frequent flier alliance.

And for Miami travelers, it’s unlikely that much will change at any point. American and regional carrier American Eagle handled 68 percent of traffic at the airport last year, while US Airways accounted for just 2 percent. American boasts 328 flights to 114 destinations from Miami.

“We don’t expect any substantial changes at MIA if the merger occurs because our traffic is largely driven by the strength of the Miami market and not the airlines serving it,” said airport spokesman Greg Chin.

American has said for more than a year that its long-term plan calls for increasing departures at key hubs, including Miami, by 20 percent. That pledge has already started to materialize; in recent months, the airline has added new service to Asuncion, Paraguay and Roatán, Honduras.

During its bankruptcy restructuring, about 400 American employees lost jobs, leaving American and its regional carrier, American Eagle, with 9,894 employees in Miami-Dade County and 43 in Fort Lauderdale. US Airways has few employees in the area.

“It really isn’t going to affect Miami in a very major way anytime soon,” said Michael Boyd, an aviation consultant in Evergreen, Colo. “Only because US Airways isn’t a big player in South Florida.”

At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, American and US Airways combined would still only be the fifth-largest airline after Southwest, Spirit, JetBlue and Delta, a spokesman said. The two airlines have little overlap in routes from Fort Lauderdale.

Despite the lack of major changes, Boyd said the merger would be a good development for Miami.

“It should be positive for the employees and it should be positive for the communities that the airlines serve,” he said.

Robert Herbst, an independent airline analyst and consultant, said US Airways will add a “significant amount” of destinations in the Northeast, including Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

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Former Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies.

She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that were intended to provide care for the poor who used the clinic, which is a federally qualified health center, entitling it to special state-federal Medicaid funds.

The formal charges accuse Abbate of taking more than $10,000 between 2008 and 2012, according to a federal court document. . She is charged by information, a sign she is cooperating with prosecutors and FBI agents. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

The center employs about 300 people and gets about $4 million annually from the federal government.

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Lena Dunham Defends Patrick Wilson Girls Episode

Lena Dunham is getting a lot of backlash after Sunday night's episode of Girls, titled Another Man's Trash, featured her character Hannah Horvath in the throes of passion with big-screen heartthrob Patrick Wilson, a.k.a. Dr. Joshua. Many critics are calling the episode a "fantastical, implausible story," but these writers may be surprised that Dunham sort of agrees with them.

The episode begins with Hannah dressed in a skimpy jumper showing up at the handsome, 40-something Joshua's (not Josh) brownstone in Brooklyn where the two begin a whirlwind, highly sexual romance that ends after two nights and involves a nude Ping-Pong scene. "I kind of wrote episode five in a fever dream," Dunham, 26, says of the now-controversial scenario in a HBO Inside the Episode piece. "Hannah got lost in a version of what could be her life."

The Golden Globe winner continues, "I like the idea that in her fantasy life she might be loved by sort of a stable, attractive older man with a great Brooklyn house."

RELATED: Lena Calls Howard Stern Out on His 'Fat Chicks' Comment

Critics from Esquire, Slate and Entertainment Weekly tore this episode apart, with even the feminist blog Jezebel writing: "Basically, nobody thought that it was remotely plausible that a successful doctor who looked like Patrick Wilson would be into a girl who looked like Lena Dunham."

Meanwhile, Slate's Daniel Engber said of the episode: "Narcissistic, childish men sleep with beautiful women all the time in movies and on TV, so why should this coupling be so difficult to fathom? I think it's because Hannah is especially and assertively ugly in this episode."

What do you think? Is this Girls romance between Dunham and Wilson so "implausible"?

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John Thomas Financial CEO Belesis facing disciplinary action

Tommy Belesis, the founder of Wall Street brokerage firm John Thomas Financial, is facing disciplinary action from the industry’s watchdog.

Belesis disclosed today that he has received a so-called Wells Notice from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the brokerage industry’s self-regulatory body.

The notice, which was sent to Belesis on Jan. 10, is a warning that Finra’s staff has initiated disciplinary proceedings against him for alleged industry violations, including selling shares held by brokerage before executing client orders.

According to his updated Finra records, Belesis — known for a cameo in Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” — is also accused of making “material misrepresentations” to customers about his failure sell their stock as requested. Finra said he “falsified or failed to preserve” records of the order requests.

Angel Chevrestt

Tommy Belesis

Belesis, who has admitted to a checkered past of stealing cars and using drugs, was also accused of “using manipulative, deceptive and/or fraudulent means to artificially inflate the price of the stock,” according to the notice.

Belesis, who was presented the Bronx GOP “Man of the Year Award” by Rudy Giuliani in 2009, didn’t immediately return a request for comment, but Wednesday’s notice on his brokerage record said he “intends to contest and defend these allegations vigorously.”

Belesis and his firm are also being probed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and FBI agents in New York. The Post exclusively reported on the investigations last week.

Sources told The Post that the Finra investigation centers on America West Resources Inc., a tiny Salt Lake City, Utah-based coal company that JTF helped raise money for in 2011.

At issue is Belesis and JTF’s sale of a stake in America West during a one-day run up in the stock last February, according to several people familiar with the investigation.

The shares hit $1.29 on Feb. 23 before plummeting to 65 cents the following day. The shares now trade below 20 cents.

kwhitehouse@nypost.com

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Former Miami Beach clinic head surrenders to FBI

Kathryn Abbate, former head of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, surrendered to the FBI on Wednesday, charged with defrauding federal healthcare agencies.

She is scheduled to make her first court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Abbate was fired last year after the center’s board alleged that she had diverted $6.8 million in funds to her personal use -- money that were intended to provide care for the poor who used the clinic, which is a federally qualified health center, entitling it to special state-federal Medicaid funds.

The formal charges accuse Abbate of taking more than $10,000 between 2008 and 2012, according to a federal court document. . She is charged by information, a sign she is cooperating with prosecutors and FBI agents. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

The center employs about 300 people and gets about $4 million annually from the federal government.

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Chinese New Year rings in at St. Thomas University

A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration was held at St. Thomas University on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Miami Gardens. The free event was open to the public and also featured an ancestral-veneration ceremony, lion dances and a reception.

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Faith Hill Becomes a Brace Face

Faith Hill has been rocking a new accessory that garnered lots of attention when she hit the Grammy Awards red carpet on Sunday. The country crooner stepped out wearing clear braces, which led us to ask: What was wrong with her teeth in the first place?

Never mentioning that she's been wearing veneers for decades, Hill, 45, explained the mouth metal to radio station KNIX at the Country Music Awards, saying, "I had braces as a kid. I forgot to wear my retainer."

She added jokingly, "Kids, wear your retainer!"

RELATED PICS: What supermodel also had dental work?

Hill and her husband Tim McGraw, 45, were both presenters at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night. Hill paired her brace face with a stunning black J. Mendel gown.

What do you think of Hill's braces? Does she need them?

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Career thief accused of burglarizing Anne Frank Center claims he wanted to look at exhibits

Burglar? Try Holocaust aficionado.

A career thief charged with burglarizing the Anne Frank Center last winter is insisting to a Manhattan jury that he had just gone inside because he wanted to look at the exhibits.

Michael James, 53 -- who has 30 theft and drug sale arrests on his rap -- is accused of swiping the executive director's wallet after sneaking into her office, located behind a full-scale display of Frank's bedroom in the Park Place center. He is linked to the burglary by fingerprint and video evidence.

"I knew he didn't want to learn more about Anne Frank, because I saw he was running away!" victim Yvonne Simons told The Post after testifying yesterday.

Umar Abbasi

Michael James.

"Here I am, the head of a tolerance organization, and it's awkward -- because this cannot be tolerated," the Dutch-born Simons said.

James, who has done three prison stints for burglary, robbery and possessing stolen goods, is charged with burglary for going through the unlocked front doors and into Simons' office fifteen minutes before the center opened -- and grand larceny for allegedly using her credit cards.

Additional reporting by Jamie Schram

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U.S. Century to OK details of new deal

U.S. Century Bank is expected to sign off on Monday on its letter of intent — the framework for a plan to recapitalize the bank.

Under the deal, a local group of investors, led by Jimmy Tate of Tate Capital and Sergio Rok of Rok Enterprises, will bring in fresh capital and wipe out the Doral bank’s bad loans, while allowing it to operate independently.

The investor group is expected to inject $50 million in capital into the bank, becoming majority owners. In addition, the group will pay about $90 million to buy certain loans, including all $98 million of U.S. Century’s non-performing loans, said U.S. Century President and Chief Executive Carlos J. Dávila. The deal would also provide for a negotiated amount to be paid to the federal government to repay U.S. Century’s $50.2 million in TARP funds.

A definitive agreement, based on the letter of intent, is expected next month. Pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the deal could be completed by mid-year, Dávila said.

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Carnival ship fire quickly extinguished as ship wallows in Gulf awaiting tug

The Carnival Triumph, a Galveston, Texas-based passenger cruise ship with the theme “Great Cities Around the World,” might have been better off sitting at port, as a court initially ordered.

As of Monday morning the 14-year old ship was going nowhere, operating on emergency generator power after a fire Sunday in one of the diesel generators killed its propulsion. The fire was quickly put out by an automatic fire extinguishing system, and none of the 4,229 passengers or crew are said to be in any danger

All were waiting patiently as a giant tug boat trudged toward the Triumph, now operating under generator power, with the intention of hauling the 100,000 ton, 893-foot vessel to the nearest port in Progreso, Mexico. It is expected in port some time Wednesday afternoon. Carnival Cruise Lines headquarters are in Miami-Dade.

“The cause of the fire is still to be determined,” said Carnival spokesman Vance Guliksen. In a brief news release, Guliksen said “there were no casualties to guests or crew.”

He said all passengers will be flown back to the United States and will be fully refunded.. Carnival said it will cover any additional transportation expenses. Passengers will also receive a free future cruise.

As of 11 a.m. Tuesday another Carnival ship, the Carnival Elation, was on the scene transferring food and beverages.

According to Carnival, some basic auxiliary power has been restored, cabin toilets are working on part of the ship and some elevators are operational. The dining areas are serving hot coffee and limited hot food.

The $420 million Triumph made news early last year after the family of a German tourist killed in the Costa Concordia disaster in the Mediterranean filed a $10 million lawsuit against Carnival. A judge found the family had standing, and ordered the ship held at port in Galveston. The court later allowed the ship to move between ports until a hearing takes place.

The lawsuit contends that Carnival Cruise Lines is the corporate parent of the Costa Concordia.

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Kerry Washington Channing Tatum Independent Spirit Awards Presenters Exclusive

Given their host (Joel McHale, Rainn Wilson, Seth Rogen, John Waters, Andy Samberg) and nominee track record, The Film Independent Spirit Awards have long been one of my favorite award shows -- and don't even get me started on the sublime singing!

RELATED - Who's Presenting at The Oscars

This year's ceremony is set to be their most star-studded to date. Not only are Jennifer Lawrence, Matthew McConaughey, Bruce Willis nominated, but ETonline can exclusively reveal that Kerry Washington, Channing Tatum, Kyle MacLachlan and Zachary Booth will be presenters on the big night!

McConaughey earned one of his two 2013 nominations for Tatum's movie, Magic Mike, while Booth's insanely good indie, Keep The Lights On, scored nods for Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Male Lead.

RELATED - 2013 Spirit Award Nominations

MacLachlan has been a Spirit Awards staple since Blue Velvet dominated the 1987 ceremony and Washington was nominated for Best Female Lead for 2002's Lift.

The 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards air February 23 at 10 p.m. on IFC.

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Doctor slapped with 55-count indictment for allegedly selling pain killers to drug dealers

A doctor was slapped with a 55-count indictment today on charges he allegedly sold prescriptions of oxycodone and other highly addictive pain killers to drug dealers from his Manhattan and Rockland County offices, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced.

The indictment also charges Dr. David Brizer with illegally possessing controlled substances and underreporting his income by at least $500,000 on his state personal income tax returns for 2011 and 2010.

According to the indictment, Brizer, 60, charged his customers up to $300 each time he sold them illegally sold prescriptions for several millions of dollars worth of pills out of his offices at 48 Burd Street in Nyack and 244 W. 54th St. in Manhattan.

Dr. David Brizer.

“Instead of saving lives, Dr. Brizer used his position to supply drug dealers and feeds a prescription drug epidemic that is devastating families across our state,” Schneiderman said.

“The message is clear – whether you are a doctor or a criminal on the street, my office will prosecute those profiting off the cycle of abuse.”

Brizer is charged with two counts of criminal tax fraud, 34 counts of criminal sale of a prescription of a controlled substance, 15 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of offering a false instrument for filing, as well as a scheme to defraud and conspiracy charges. All are felony counts and he faces up to seven years in prison.

Brizer allegedly issued fraudulent prescriptions for fake patient, or those in the names of people who had no knowledge he was doing so.

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Green cards for sale at a South Beach hotel: Competition is on for EB5 investment visas

If David Hart gets his way, South Beach’s 42-room Astor Hotel will be on a hiring spree this year as it adds concierge service, a roof-top pool, an all-night diner, spa and private-car service available 24 hours a day.

New hires will be crucial to Hart’s business plan, since foreign investors have agreed to pay about $50,000 for each job created by the Art Deco boutique.

The Miami immigration lawyer specializes in arranging visas for wealthy foreign citizens under a special program that trades green cards for investment dollars. Businesses get the money and must use it to boost payroll. The minimum investment is $500,000 to add at least 10 jobs to the economy. That puts the pressure on Hart and his partners at the Astor to beef up payroll dramatically, with plans to take a hotel with roughly 20 employees to one with as many as 100 workers.

“My primary responsibility is to make something happen here over the next two years that will create the jobs we need,’’ Hart said a few steps away from a nearly empty restaurant on a recent weekday morning. “It’s all going to be transformed.”

Though established in the 1990s, the “EB5” visas soared in popularity during the recession as developers sought foreign cash to replace dried-up credit markets in the United States.

Chinese investors dominate the transactions, accounting for about 65 percent of the nearly 9,000 EB5 visas granted since 2006. South Korea finishes a distant second at 12 percent and the United Kingdom holds the third-place slot at 3 percent. If Latin America and the Caribbean were one country, they would rank No. 4 on the list, with 231 EB5 visas granted, or about 3 percent of the total.

Competition has gotten stiffer for the deep-pocketed foreign investors willing to pay for green cards. The University of Miami’s bio-science research park near the Jackson hospital system raised $20 million from 40 foreign investors under the EB5 program, most of them from Asia. The money went into the park’s first building; visa brokers are waiting to see if the second building will proceed so they can offer a new pool of potential green-card sales.

In Hollywood, the stalled $131 million Margaritaville resort had hoped to raise about $75 million from EB5 investors before ditching that plan last year to pursue more traditional financing. A retail complex by developer Jeff Berkowitz in Coral Gables also launched a program to raise $50 million in EB5 money for the project, Gables Station. Hart worked with other EB5 investors to back pizza restaurants in Miami and South Beach. A limestone mine in Martin County also was backed by EB5 dollars.

This year, the city of Miami itself is expected to get into the business by setting up an EB5 program to raise foreign cash for a range of city businesses and developments. The first would be the tallest building in the city — developer Tibor Hollo’s planned 85-story apartment tower, the Panorama, in downtown Miami.

With a construction cost of about $700 million, Miami’s debut EB5 venture hopes to raise about $100 million from foreign investors, said Laura Reiff, the Greenberg Traurig lawyer in Virginia working with Miami on the EB5 effort. “This is a marquis project,’’ she said.

The arrangement is a novel one for Miami, with the city planning to help a private developer raise funds overseas for a new high-rise. And it would allow Hollo and future participants to tout the city of Miami’s endorsement when competing with other Miami-area projects for EB5 dollars. “We will have the benefit of the brand of the city of Miami,’’ said Mikki Canton, the $6,000-a-month city consultant heading Miami’s EB5 effort. “A lot of these others are privately owned and they won’t have that brand.”

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Two Fantasy 5 tickets sold in Broward take $92,069 jackpot

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Three tickets, two purchased in Broward County, matched all five Fantasy 5 numbers to collect a jackpot worth $92,069.38 each, the Florida Lottery said Sunday.

The winning tickets were bought in Plantation and Tamarac and in Homosassa, lottery officials said.

The numbers drawn Saturday night were 1-3-16-18-25

The 463 tickets matching four numbers won $96 each.

There was no Florida Lotto winner. The jackpot is now $16 million for Wednesday’s drawing.

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Chris Brown Car Collision

ET has learned that Chris Brown was involved in a solo, non-injury traffic collision in Beverly Hills at noon today, blaming the paparazzi for losing control of his Porsche and colliding with a wall.

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A statement from Lieutenant Lincoln Hoshino of the Beverly Hills police details the incident: "On February 9, 2013 at approximately 12:03 p.m., entertainer Chris Brown was involved in a solo, non-injury traffic collision in the 600 Block Bedford Drive/Camden Drive alley. Mr. Brown was the driver of the vehicle and collided with a wall. Brown stated that he was being chased by paparazzi causing him to lose control of his vehicle. Brown's Black Porsche was towed from the scene at his request."

Related: Rihanna Accompanies Chris Brown to Court

Earlier this week, Brown visited an L.A. courthouse with girlfriend Rihanna on to oppose a motion to revoke his probation stemming from his 2009 assault on Rihanna. Prosecutors claim Brown did not show sufficient evidence that he completed his required community labor sentence. 

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'Identity Thief' steals No. 1 spot at weekend box office

AP

Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman in a scene from "Identity Thief"

LOS ANGELES — "Identity Thief" has turned out to be the real thing at the box office.

The comedy starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy debuted at No. 1 with a $36.6 million opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"Identity Thief" opened solidly despite the winter storm that buried much of the Northeast. Distributor Universal Pictures estimates the storm might have choked off as much as 10 percent of the movie's business.

"It took such a chunk out of the business this weekend. But we can't control Mother Nature," said Nikki Rocco, Universal's head of distribution. "We probably could have hit $40 million if it weren't for the weather this weekend."

The previous weekend's top movie, the zombie romance "Warm Bodies," fell to No. 2 with $11.5 million. That raises its domestic total to $36.7 million.

The weekend's other new wide release, Steven Soderbergh's thriller "Side Effects," had a modest opening of $10 million, coming in at No. 3.

Tom Cruise's 1986 hit "Top Gun" took flight again in theaters with a 3-D reissue that pulled in $1.9 million in narrow release of 300 theaters. The movie has a short run on the big-screen leading up to its Feb. 19 3-D release on DVD and Blu-ray.

Overall domestic revenues were down sharply from a year ago, when four movies had big openings — "The Vow," ''Safe House," ''Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" and a 3-D reissue of "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace."

Receipts totaled $105 million, down 45 percent from the same weekend last year — which was the only non-holiday weekend to have four movies open with more than $20 million, according to box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

"The same weekend a year ago was such a tremendous weekend," said Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "It's really tough to live up to a weekend like we had last year. It was sort of a foregone conclusion that this was going to be a down weekend."

"Identity Thief" came in above industry expectations despite the storm and poor reviews for the comedy, which stars Bateman as a man chasing down a con artist (McCarthy) who has racked up thousands of dollars of charges in his name.

The combination of the actors and the premise made it a review-proof comedy, Rocco said.

"I think people just want to be entertained," Rocco said. "The chemistry between Jason and Melissa is the reason why this picture is doing so well."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Identity Thief," $36.6 million ($230,000 international).

2. "Warm Bodies," $11.5 million.

3. "Side Effects," $10 million.

4. "Silver Linings Playbook," $6.9 million.

5. "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters," $5.8 million ($11.6 million international).

6. "Mama," $4.3 million ($6.1 million international).

7. "Zero Dark Thirty," $4 million.

8. "Argo," $2.5 million.

9. "Django Unchained," $2.3 million.

10. "Bullet to the Head," $2 million.

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Mega mansion frenzy: Buyer snaps up Pat Riley’s $16M home to level it, rebuild

Miami Heat President Pat Riley sold his spectacular bayfront mansion in gated Gables Estates for $16.8 million last March.

The 12,856-square-foot Mediterranean-style dream house at 180 Arvida Parkway has a theater, wine cellar, library, and a sprawling pool with waterfalls and an aqua bar.

But that’s all coming down.

Turns out the lure was the lot: a rare fingertip of prime land, nearly two acres, jutting into the turquoise waters of Biscayne Bay.

In December, the buyer — listed as 180 Arvida LLC represented by Miami attorney Mark Hasner — presented the city of Coral Gables with plans to tear down the home, built in 1991, and erect an even grander estate along the 900 linear feet of bayfront.

“Most people would move in and be perfectly happy, but clients are looking for perfection — really good stuff,” said Jorge Uribe, a senior vice president at One Sotheby’s International Realty, who wasn’t involved but sold an even bigger trophy property last year: a $39.4 million estate at 14 Indian Creek Dr., in Indian Creek Village, dubbed “Miami’s Billionaire Bunker” by Forbes magazine.

“The trend in the last several years is a demand for very high-quality product. People are looking for really good locations, really good materials, and they’re willing to pay for it,” Uribe said.

Miami’s ultra-luxury market is on fire. Prices for the fanciest single-family homes and condominiums have soared to levels never before seen in the area, fueled by strong foreign demand and renewed interest from New Yorkers and others in the Northeast.

With Miami’s global image burnished by Art Basel Miami Beach and the debut of other cultural and entertainment venues, the city is emerging as an even greater magnet for the world’s super-rich.

In January, a penthouse at the Setai Resort & Residences on Miami Beach fetched $27 million, a new high for a Miami-Dade condominium. “Every building we do business in is at its highest price of all time,” said Mark Zilbert, president of Zilbert International Realty, which represented the buyer in the Setai deal.

Last August, a sleek, new home, built on spec at 3 Indian Creek Dr., sold for $47 million, a record high for a Miami-Dade residence. The buyer, whose identity has not been revealed, is Russian.

“People are realizing how valuable the bay waterfront is,” said Oren Alexander, co-founder of the Alexander Group at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, who co-listed the 3 Indian Creek property with The Jills team at Coldwell Banker and represented the buyer for the home. His father, Shlomy Alexander, developed the property with partner Felix Cohen.

Shlomy Alexander is working on two more extravagant spec homes — one at 30 Indian Creek Dr. and a second that is set to break ground shortly at 252 Bal Bay Dr. in Bal Harbour, his son said. Plans envision a tropical modern-style project that fuses the indoors and outdoors — a concept popular in Brazil.

The elder Alexander recently traveled to Italy to shop for exclusive stone for the projects, said the son.

“It’s really trending to the ultra-luxury. All sorts of exotic materials — exotic woods, exotic marbles, exotic stones,” said Sean Murphy, an executive vice president at Coastal Construction, a major builder of luxury hotels and condominiums that also has erected some of the most extravagant mansions in the region. “Everything is so exotic.”

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