Fraud Ring Drains $5,800,000 From Florida Condo and Homeowners Associations: Report

A fraud ring has diverted at least $5.8 million from Miami-Dade County condominium and homeowners associations through falsified invoices and affiliated vendors.

The operation relied on property management companies to siphon funds intended for roofing, security, landscaping and other upkeep, reports CBS News Miami.

Investigators describe the ringleader as a 60-year-old man who leveraged relationships with elderly, mostly Spanish-speaking board volunteers to gain control of association finances and operations.

Authorities say board members often signed documents without realizing the full implications, allowing the group to transfer money into personal accounts instead of paying legitimate expenses.

The probe, called Operation Sundown, uncovered involvement from multiple companies and led to arrests on charges including racketeering, money laundering, organized fraud and grand theft.

Affected properties include several in the Hialeah area such as Los Sueños Condominiums, where residents report broken gates, nonfunctional cameras and vandalism despite ongoing fees and assessments.

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