A former employee of a Miami luxury auto dealership is accused of orchestrating a massive fraud scheme alongside her husband and son, allegedly stealing more than $1 million from the business, authorities said.
Yuddy Mejias, 51, her husband Miguel Gonzalez, 54, and her son Angel Gonzalez, 28, were arrested Monday on charges including grand theft, organized fraud, and an organized scheme to defraud, according to Miami-Dade jail records.
Mejias had been employed by Murgado Automotive Group, also known as Brickell Motors, since 2013. She initially worked in the company cafeteria before moving through several positions and eventually becoming a billing clerk responsible for processing refund checks.
The investigation began after an accounting department employee alerted a vice president last year, leading to Mejias’ suspension. According to arrest warrants, Mejias issued more than 480 fraudulent refund checks to her husband and son, totaling over $1 million.
Miami Police spokesman Michael Vega described the scheme: customers would purchase a vehicle, and Mejias would claim they were owed a refund — for example, $1,000. She would then process a check under the customer’s account, but the check would be made payable to her husband or son instead. Authorities say the fraudulent checks increased from $1,000 to as much as $3,000 and were cashed multiple times per month.
Investigators said Mejias manipulated accounting entries to conceal the theft.
All three suspects were booked into jail and appeared in court Tuesday. Mejias’ bond was set at $85,000, while Angel Gonzalez received a $50,000 bond and Miguel Gonzalez was given a $60,000 bond.
Miami Police stated that the investigation remains ongoing.
