New arrest made in Hammock's HOA theft and extortion investigation

An eighth arrest has been made in a years-long investigation into alleged theft and extortion at one of the largest homeowners associations in the state of Florida.

The Miami-Dade District Attorney’s Office announced this on Friday announced charges against the former accountant of the Hammock Home Owners Association in connection with the ongoing investigation.

Prosecutors say several HOA board members and their family members diverted association funds to themselves and friends disguised as vendor payments through fictitious companies.

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

According to prosecutors, three of the shell companies involved listed Cue’s company, Worldwide Business Solution Corp., as their registered agent and received nearly $500,000 in vendor payments from the HOA.

“No homeowner should have to worry about how their HOA is handling association funds,” State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement. statement.

Witness Dante Chauca, the husband of former HOA board member Monica Ghilardi, was incorrectly listed as a “manager” in state documents for a fictitious salesperson named Albri Consulting, LLC. According to Chauca, his wife allegedly directed Cue to create a hidden salary for her under Albri Consulting without Chauca’s permission, prosecutors say.

“Our investigation into the thefts at the Hammocks HOA has shined a bright light on a crime that may be taking place in our state,” said Fernandez Rundle. “Those who believe that an HOA’s funds are theirs for the taking have made a serious mistake. Today’s arrest should make it abundantly clear.”

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

Cue is the eighth person arrested in connection with the alleged theft. His charges include racketeering, money laundering and an organized scheme to defraud over $50,000.

In 2022, various current and former board members were arrested on charges of stealing more than $2 million in residents’ money.