A multi-agency, two-year investigation nabbed four con artists accused of ripping off unsuspecting property investors, authorities said Wednesday.
During a news conference, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle unveiled an elaborate scheme in which Ayda Young, Yohany Garcia, Zoraida Abreu and Johnny Bou-Nassar allegedly committed their crimes under the umbrella of the Miami-Dade county government. Their business was called “Miami-Dade County Short Sales Inc.”
"This scam was absolutely based on sheer boldness on their part,” Rundle said. "They would sell property to these interested parties, and they would say you're actually going to be paying for real estate tax deeds that were outstanding."
But there were no delinquent taxes owed on the properties, such as one on Alton Road in Miami Beach, where the victim paid out more than $9,700, thinking they were getting the property through a tax deed sale from the county, officials said.
"They would cash these checks at cash checking stores,” Rundle said. “As soon as the money was placed in the account, it was taken out and squandered.”
About $2.5 million of victims’ money was taken from them through such bogus transactions.
Officials said they cannot find any of the stolen money to return to the victims, and believe that most of the cash was gambled away.
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Young is charged with first-degree racketeering, criminal use of personal information with intent to obtain more than $10,000, first-degree grand theft, and second-degree grand theft, and uttering a forged instrument, while Garcia is charged with first-degree racketeering, criminal use of personal information with intent to obtain more than $10,000, and first-, second- and third-degree grand theft, according to court records.
Abreu is charged with first-degree racketeering, first-degree grand theft and second-degree grand theft, and Bou-Nassar faces the same charges as well as uttering a forged instrument, court records said.
Miami-Dade Inspector General Chris Mazzella said there is one basic principle to keep in mind when it comes to such schemes.
"Where you have the promise of great returns on low investment with no risk, than you really need to be careful,” he said.
