Broward County Sheriff Nick Navarro has received at least $12,000 in campaign contributions from companies associated with multimillionaire car dealer Jim Moran, an admitted income tax evader.

“It’s clean money,” said Navarro. “There’s nothing dirty.”

Records show that at least 12 Moran family companies — among them JM Pontiac of Hollywood, Southeast Toyota Distributors of Deerfield Beach and World Cars Inc. of Jacksonville — each contributed $1,000 to the Navarro campaign.

State laws limit individuals or companies to donations of $1,000 for each election.

Moran, speaking through Bill Donohoe, his vice president for legal and governmental affairs, declined to comment.

Navarro, however, said he expects to get even more money from the companies if he defeats opponent Jim Howard in the Republican primary on Sept. 6. Under state law, the primary is considered one election, the general election another.

The sheriff said he has known Moran for years, ever since he broke up a drug ring at Moran’s JM Pontiac in Hollywood in the early 1970s. In 1982, when Colombian hitmen were supposed to be gunning for Navarro, then chief of the sheriff’s Organized Crime Unit, Moran flew Navarro and his wife, Sharron, out of South Florida.

Then, in 1984, Navarro wrote a letter on Moran’s behalf to U.S. District Judge Joe Eaton. Moran, who had just pleaded guilty to income tax evasion, was subsequently given a two-year suspended sentence.

Moran also pumped about $10,000 into Navarro’s 1984 campaign and held two campaign financing parties aboard his yacht where thousands more were raised.

The donations became a major issue in that campaign.

“I don’t enforce IRS laws,” Navarro said. “He has never asked me for anything.”

Why did Navarro, who has raised more than $300,000, accept money that might be subject to criticism?

The money, Navarro pointed out, was raised early last year. He said he didn’t know then how much he could raise. Moreover, Navarro added, he and Moran are longtime friends.

“There are certain things in life we call loyalty,” Navarro said.

Opponent Howard criticized Navarro’s relationship with Moran.

“What do the people of Broward County think when they read that their chief law enforcement officer is associating with a known felon?” Howard asked. “I find it bizarre that this man not only travels in those circles, but flaunts it.”

Besides JM Pontiac, Southeast Toyota and World Cars, the companies that donated money to the Navarro campaign included Southeast Industrial Properties Inc., Tender Loving Care Corp., JMIC Life Insurance Co., Jim Moran and Associates, Moran Enterprises, Inc., JM Family Enterprises, World Omni Leasing, World Omni Financial Corp. and Toyo Guard.

A 13th company that donated $1,000, Southeast Family Life Insurance, could not be located in state corporate records. However, it is listed on campaign records at 100 NW 12th Ave., Deerfield Beach, along with other Moran family companies.