FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Alan Koslow, a once-prominent South Florida lobbyist and attorney, testified against his former political ally Joy Cooper on Wednesday. Cooper, who served as the mayor of Hallandale Beach for 13 years until she was arrested in 2018, faces several charges related to campaign finance violations, including campaign contribution violations, official misconduct and soliciting a campaign contribution in a government building. During Cooper's reelection bid in 2012, she and Koslow met with two undercover FBI agents posing as wealthy land developers. One of the undercover agents offered to contribute $500 to Coopers campaign, the legal maximum donation allowed in Hallandale Beach at the time. According to state prosecutors, in order to account for the contribution, Koslow allegedly used a group of women to write smaller checks to Cooper's campaign.

Former Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper sits in a Broward County courtroom during jury selection in her trial on felony charges, Nov. 18, 2019, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During Cooper's reelection bid in 2012, she and Koslow met with two undercover FBI agents posing as wealthy land developers. One of the undercover agents offered to contribute $500 to Cooper's campaign, the legal maximum donation allowed in Hallandale Beach at the time. According to state prosecutors, in order to account for the contribution, Koslow allegedly used a group of women to write smaller checks to Cooper's campaign. Koslow is the state's key witness in the case of Cooper's alleged campaign finance violations and was expected to continue his testimony through the afternoon.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - An FBI agent was the first to testify Tuesday in the corruption trial of former Hallandale Beach mayor Joy Cooper. Investigators said Cooper solicited campaign contributions for herself and others that exceeded the legal limit and falsely reported the contributions in campaign reports. Investigators said Cooper also solicited contributions in the amount of $1,500 each for then-Commissioners Bill Julian and Anthony Sanders. "This case is about the six times the defendant spoke to an undercover agent about illegal campaign contributions, as well as the $5,000 illegal campaign contribution she accepted from an undercover agent," prosecutor Catherine Maus told the jury. She faces third-degree felony charges of official misconduct and exceeding limits on campaign contributions.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - An FBI agent was the first to testify Tuesday in the corruption trial of Hallandale Beach mayor Joy Cooper. Investigators said Cooper solicited campaign contributions for herself and others that exceeded the legal limit and falsely reported the contributions in campaign reports. Investigators said Cooper also solicited contributions in the amount of $1,500 each for then-Commissioners Bill Julian and Anthony Sanders. She faces third-degree felony charges of official misconduct and exceeding limits on campaign contributions. Prosecutors dropped third-degree money laundering charges in August.

Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper was arrested Thursday on three felony charges. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Jury selection began Monday in the trial of former Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper. Cooper was arrested in January 2018 on third-degree felony charges of money laundering, official misconduct and exceeding limits on campaign contributions. Investigators said Cooper solicited campaign contributions for herself and others that exceeded the legal limit and falsely reported the contributions in campaign reports. Investigators said Cooper also solicited contributions in the amount of $1,500 each for then-Commissioners Bill Julian and Anthony Sanders.