Surfside victims’ identities stolen, 3 arrested soon after purchasing spree
2 min readDays after the Surfside, Florida, rental collapse, three folks stole more than $45,000 from 7 victims and went on Christian Louboutin and Versace searching sprees, Miami-Dade County Point out Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle claimed at a news meeting Wednesday.
Rundle declared that Betsy Alexandra Cacho Medina, 30 Rodney Choute, 38 and Kimberly Michelle Johnson, 34, had been arrested and billed with schemes to defraud and id theft. They tried to steal an additional $67,000, Rundle reported.
“For most of us and most of The usa, this unbelievable tragedy tore at our extremely hearts, but for a group of alleged identification thieves, it was a time to make some money,” Rundle reported at the news conference.
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Cacho Medina, who claimed to have survived the collapse, was recognized as the direct suspect. In early July, Cacho Medina allegedly referred to as Barclays Bank posing as Ana Ortiz, who died in the Champlain Towers South condominium. Cacho Medina requested a replacement credit card be expedited to a new handle, Miami authorities mentioned at the news conference.
Mourning the reduction of her sister, Nicole Ortiz noticed electronic mail notifications on her sister’s iPad, she explained to Florida Tv set station WLPG. There were being notifications of adjustments to her sister’s credit card mailing deal with, she said.
“They have stolen all her credit playing cards,” Ortiz told WLPG.
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On July 9, the working day of her sister’s funeral, Ortiz filed a police report that led to the discovery of other identification theft victims, Rundle claimed at the convention.
Rundle called the defendants competent professionals and “cyber grave robbers.” The group also stole from Ana Ortiz’s partner, Frankie Kleiman, and rental people Gladys and Antonio Lozano, all of whom died in the collapse, according to the news conference. The other 3 victims ended up not named.
The investigation discovered that Cacho Medina, Johnson and Choute allegedly employed counterfeit Social Protection playing cards. Johnson and Choute also utilised fake drivers’ licenses, in accordance to authorities.
Sergio Lozano told WFOR in Miami the alleged theft started July 3, the day of his parents’ funeral. He noticed income transfers, a new on-line lender account below his mother’s identify and a request for new debit playing cards. He filed a report and explained the crimes still left his relatives feeling betrayed, in accordance to WFOR.
“I really don’t obtain a additional despicable crime than thieving from the useless,” Lozano told WFOR.
Comply with Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda
