Florida: Beitar Jerusalem head pleads no contest to drug charges
South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports misdemeanor charges against sponsor of Israeli soccer team to be dropped once he pays $536 in court costs
A millionaire with strong ties to Israel has pleaded no contest at an Oakland Park, Florida court to possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, avoiding jail time or probation.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that once Guma Aguiar pays $536 in court costs, the misdemeanor charges will be wiped from his record.
Aguiar was arrested June 19 after Broward Sheriff's deputies stopped his Bentley. He told Israeli media the deputies beat him and made anti-Semitic remarks during his arrest; a spokesman denied Aguiar's claims.
According to an internal sheriff's memo, he told a guard, "I have money and could buy you, Mr. Deputy."
Aguiar, who made his fortune in the oil and gas business, became the sponsor of the Israeli Premier League soccer team Beitar Jerusalem and has given millions to Israeli and Jewish causes.
