Miami-Dade County prosecutors have made a seventh arrest in their ongoing investigation into fraud at The Hammocks, a large residential community in West Kendall. Ivan Diez, 58, was arrested on Thursday, accused of billing $172,000 for work that was never completed.
The investigation has exposed a web of corruption within the community’s homeowners association (HOA), which oversees more than 18,000 residents. Prosecutors allege that corrupt board members have been profiting at the expense of the residents, while essential maintenance and upkeep were neglected.
Local homeowner Ana Danton, who has lived in The Hammocks for 30 years, expressed optimism about the recent developments. “We are celebrating the opportunity to remove what’s wrong from our community,” she told CBS News Miami. Danton has been actively advocating for change and reform within the HOA.
According to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, Diez’s fraudulent activities included billing for hurricane cleanup despite there being no hurricane. Diez’s arrest follows the earlier arrests of six others between 2022 and 2023. Among them, former treasurer Myriam Rodgers and former HOA vice president Monica Ghilardi have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with authorities.
“We cannot allow these bad actors to go unpunished,” stated Miami-Dade County Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez. He added that both local and state reforms are helping to ensure that HOA boards are held accountable. Miami-Dade Police have also appointed an investigator to specifically handle HOA fraud cases.
Danton and other residents are hopeful that the community can now move forward. “We need to use the recovered funds to restore the neighborhood,” she said, referencing the millions of dollars returned as a result of the investigation. As a result of the criminal probe, homeowners have seen a significant reduction in their monthly dues, providing much-needed relief to many residents, especially retirees on fixed incomes.
Diez has not yet had a bond hearing, and prosecutors confirm that the investigation is ongoing, with more arrests expected in the near future.