Ex-Manager Set To Be Released Today

MANNY GARCIA Herald Staff Writer

Former Miami City Manager Cesar Odio, who blocked an FBI probe into corruption at City Hall and paid for it with his freedom, will be released this morning from a federal prison in Pensacola.

Odio, 63, served 361 days of a one-year sentence. Family and friends say the prison stay left Odio visibly humbled by incarceration, reawakened spiritually and determined to restore his reputation.
``He realizes that he has a second chance,'' said Javier Odio, one of his 10 brothers and sisters.

In 1996, FBI agents secretly recorded Odio counting out $3,000 in cash -- part of his cut for building a $12,500 lobbyist fee into a city health contract, federal prosecutors said.

The charge that sent him to prison -- obstructing the federal investigation -- resulted from a plea bargain. The plea served both sides; prosecutors avoided trying the popular community leader, and Odio avoided hard time -- up to 10 years.

Odio worked in Miami for 17 years, including 11 as city manager. During his time, Odio became one of the best-known exile figures in the country, organizing aid for thousands of Cuban refugees after the Mariel boatlift, helping quell riots in Miami and in a federal prison where Cuban detainees fought over living conditions.

His indictment in 1996 stunned exile Miami. It was no surprise that Spanish-language radio stations recently began broadcasting word that Odio would be returning to Miami. It was the talk of City Hall -- his former base of power.

Odio is the first defendant

to leave prison as part of the Operation Greenpalm case, a federal probe into corruption in Miami and Miami-Dade County governments.

City Hall lobbyist Jorge de Cardenas, serving a year in a Kentucky prison, is scheduled to be released Dec. 13. Former Commissioner Miller Dawkins, serving a 27-month sentence in a southwest Kendall federal prison, should be out in 10 months, his lawyer said.

All were nabbed in a kickbacks-for-contracts scheme orchestrated by former Miami Finance Director Manohar Surana, who cooperated with prosecutors after they caught him trying to shake down a city computer vendor.

Surana, who secretly recorded dealings with the other defendants, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and bribery in June 1996. He remains free and faces up to five years. Prosecutors declined to say why he has yet to be sentenced.

Odio served his time at the federal prison camp on Eglin Air Force Base. Eglin is an unfenced, minimum-security prison. Odio was one of 850 prisoners whose regimented day begins at 5:30 a.m. and generally ends with lights out at 10:30 p.m.

``There is no fence, but you still do not have your freedom,'' prison spokeswoman Myra Lowery said. ``Your schedule is made for you. It's not like home.''

Odio worked as a clerk in the prison uniform section, his brother said, keeping track of the clothes. When off duty, Odio performed calisthenics.

``He's in great shape,'' Javier Odio said.

Odio also played and coached basketball, his brother said, tutoring young prisoners in playmaking and teamwork skills.

This May, his mother died of liver cancer. Federal agents flew him to Miami to be at her side and immediately returned him to prison. The experience strengthened his religious beliefs, his family said.

Odio lectured during Catholic services, his brother said.

``He preached family values. He counseled a prisoner who had just lost his daughter.''

Odio; his wife, Maria Antonieta Prio; their children, and other relatives will spend the Columbus Day weekend at the beach away from Miami.

Odio will then go to work with Javier, running Tropical Development, a development company. Javier Odio said his brother will be a consultant on construction projects in South Florida. His income will be supplemented by his $58,166-a-year pension, which the city pension board refused to ax despite his felony conviction.

He will be on probation for two years.

"Politics is definitely not on his agenda,'' Javier Odio said. ``He's concerned with his image. He wants a normal life. He's worried about what people will think of him.''