BREAKING: Michael Pizzi And Manuel 'Manny' Marono, Mayors Of Miami Lakes And Sweetwater, Arrested By FBI On Bribery Charges

After two years of undergoing investigation for corruption, Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi and Sweewater Mayor Manuel Marono have been arrested by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news conference Tuesday that the two have been arrested for accepting thousands of dollars in bribes. The FBI arrested both of them in their respecitve City Hall offices, the Associated Press reported.

"This is a sad day for South Florida, this betrayal of our public trust is intolerable," U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said. "Our democracy suffers in these cases when elected officials use their power and political influence for personal gain instead of the public good."

The two appeared in court later that afternoon where Marono was ordered to be held on a $250,000 bond and Pizzi on a $500,000 bond, NBC Miami reported. Jorge Forte and Richard Candia, two lobbyists for the mayors, have also been arrested in the case. The investigation into the dealings began June 2011 when authorities receieved an anonymous tip about corrupt activities. Undercover agents managed to work out a "deal" with Candia to get federal grant money from corrupt local offices, which eventually implicated the two mayors. Both mayors are expected to be suspended from their positions by Florida Governor Rick Scott as they go through trial proceedings.

"This is disappointing. Public officials must be held to the highest standards," Gov. Scott said in a statement. "While we wait to see the evidence, the fact remains that elected officials must be held to the highest standard."

Marono has been mayor of Sweetwater since 2003. He was first elected to the Sweetwater commission in 1995 at age 23. Pizzi was first elected as Miami Lakes Town Council in 2000. He was elected mayor in 2008 and reelected recently in 2012. No other details were immediately available about the charges.