New arrest in Hammock HOA theft and blackmail investigation

An eighth arrest has been made as part of a years-long investigation into allegations of theft and blackmail at one of Florida’s largest homeowners associations.

Friday at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. announced Charges against Hammock Homeowners Association’s former accountant in connection with ongoing investigation.

Prosecutors said some HOA board members and their relatives transferred association funds to themselves and their friends under the guise of vendor payments through fictitious companies.

Jesus Cue was the business and accounting advisor to the Hammocks HOA board of directors from October 2018 to November 2022. During that time, Cue received $644,000 in vendor payments, prosecutors say.

Three of the shell companies listed Cue’s company, Worldwide Business Solution Corp., as their registered agent and received almost $500,000 in vendor payments from the HOA, according to the State Attorney’s Office.

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“No homeowner should have to worry about how the HOA handles the association’s funds,” said State’s Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. expression.

The witness, Dante Chauca, husband of former HOA board member Monica Ghilardi, was incorrectly listed as the “manager” on state filings for a fictitious vendor called Albri Consulting, LLC. Prosecutors allege that Chauca’s wife instructed Cue to create a secret salary for himself at Albri Consulting without Chauca’s permission.

“Our investigation into the burglaries at the Hammocks HOA shed a bright light on a crime that can occur anywhere in our state,” Fernandez Rundle said. “Today’s arrest should make that clear.”

Hammocks HOA is the largest homeowners association in the county, overseeing 40 communities and more than 6,500 units in West Kendall.

Cue became the 8th person arrested in connection with the alleged theft. His charges include racketeering, money laundering and an organized scheme to defraud more than $50,000.

Many current and former board members in 2022 arrested He is accused of stealing more than $2 million of residents’ money.