Hallandale Beach Mayor Arrested

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL — Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper was charged with money laundering and three other offenses on Thursday, according to court documents filed in Broward County. Local News 10 and NBC 6 both reported that the charges stem from an undercover FBI probe.

The embattled Broward County official has been at the center of a public controversy since she appeared to slur her words at a public meeting last year. She later claimed to be suffering from dehydration after becoming ill on a trip to Mexico, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Two city officials wrote to Gov. Rick Scott asking that the mayor be removed from office following the incident, the paper reported.

A spokesman with the FBI in Miami told Patch early Thursday afternoon that the agency was not immediately commenting on the matter.

According to court documents, bail was set at $12,000 for the 57-year-old Miami who was first elected to the Hallandale Beach City Commission in 1999. She has served as commissioner, vice mayor and and was the first directly elected mayor of Hallandale Beach.

Local 10 News reported that FBI agents posed as wealthy developers seeking favors from the mayor during the investigation.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Cooper is married to Dr. Harry Cooper.

Booking photo of Mayor Joy Cooper courtesy Broward Sheriff's Office