Alberto Gutman

Background

Gutman, Alberto was born on January 4, 1959 in Havana, Cuba.

Education

Associate of Arts, Miami-Dade Community College, 1980; Bachelor of Business Administration, U. Miami, Florida, 1982.

Career

Born in Havana, Cuba, on January 4, 1959 he moved to the United States when he was 6 years old. He lived and went to school in Miami Beach, Florida. Gutman resigned his post as chair of the Senate Health Care Committee over alleged improprieties in brokering a Medicaid health plan during his term as vice chairman of the committee.

He had obtained the permission of the Senate legal counsel before brokering the deal and maintained his position on the Senate Select Committee on Social Services Reform and the Ways and Means subcommittee. Charges were related to 1992 events in a home health care company with an office that was used during his senatorial campaign as headquarters. Charges against wife were dropped to one misdemeanor count.

On 6th day of trial he pleaded guilty to one felony conspiracy count that he benefited from home health care companies that defrauded Medicare. He resigned from the Florida Senate as part of the plea bargain that called for a 2-year prison term. Judge Alan Gold rejected the plea agreement and sentenced him in 2000 to five years in prison, fined him $50,000 and ordered to pay $98,175 in restitution.

Court of Appeal refused to hear the case. He was released in 2003. Paid fine and restitution on 2007, during which time he also registered for a patent for cigar cutter that he transferred to Nicaragua Tobacco Imports, Inc., Miami, Florida.

Achievements

• In 1992 he won first election to the Florida Senate defeating Democrat Kendall Coffey, who was subsequently appointed by President Clinton as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.

Membership

Commissioner Florida Commision on Minority Health, 1993-1995. Member health care com.Nat. Conference State Legislatures.

Member environmental quality and natural resources committee Southern Legislation Conference. Member of advisory board Florida Seed Capital Board. Member Executive Committee Dade County Representatives.

Youth sub-chairman United Way Hispanic Leadership Committee. Member Miami-Roads Civic Association, Young Representatives. Founding member Representatives for Environmental Protection.

Member U. Miami Alumni Association, Florida Alumni Association (honorary), B'nai B'rith, Masons.

Interests

• Avocations: fishing, reading.

Connections

M. Marci Rabinowitz; children: Lauren, Ilana.

child:

Ilana Gutman

child:

Lauren Gutman