Surfside identity thieves had credit card makers, another technology for committing crimes

SURFSIDE, Fla. – The team of fraudsters accused of stealing the identities of the victims of the collapse of the Surfside apartment had at their disposal high-tech tools, including machines to create credit cards and engrave their names, as they have informed researchers in Local 10 News.

Detectives who gave search warrants also found blank checks and birth certificates, sharing photos of their findings.

“When we executed the search warrant, a lot of things were found,” the Surfside police sergeant said. Said Marian Cruz. “Detectives found large amounts of mail and credit cards, all on behalf of the victims. Equipment for the manufacture of credit cards, designer shoes and handbags, narcotics and even a firearm was also located. “

The video first obtained by Local 10 News shows the arrest of Nelson Garcia-Medina, 20, one of the four people accused of the scheme.

Garcia-Medina tells a Surfside police officer on camera with the video of his arrest that he is innocent.

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He is accused of using the identity of a dead victim in the collapse of Champlain Towers South to buy a pair of $ 130 Jordan sneakers.

Also arrested on Wednesday were Betsy Alejandra Cacho-Medina, 30, Kimberly Michelle Johnson, 34, and Rodney Choute, 38.

Prosecutors say Cacho-Medina, Garcia-Medina’s sister, is trapped in an audio recording calling a credit card company and claiming to be the victim of the condominium collapse, after she was seen in a shopping surveillance video at Bloomingdale’s at the Adventure Mall using a stolen card.

Investigators say they are all professional thieves who stole the identities of at least seven victims of the condominium collapse (five who died and two who survived) and who used their money to shop at luxury stores in the US. south florida.

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Several police agencies spent months tracking down the suspects. Authorities said almost nothing about them (their IDs, vehicle license plates, addresses) was legitimate.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said the suspects face 15-30 years in prison if convicted on their various charges.

The investigation continues, as there may also be other conspirators and victims.

If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of this crime, you are asked to call a hotline at 786-801-6086.