"Stealing from the dead": Crime ring nabbed for identity theft of Surfside condo victims
Surfside, Florida - Authorities have arrested several people suspected of stealing the identities of victims killed in the Surfside condo collapse, officials said Wednesday.
Investigators believe the crime ring stole the identifies of at least five victims – three dead, two survivors – to open up credit cards and make fraudulent purchases.
They reportedly stole thousands of dollars and made Nordstrom, Versace, and Target purchases driving a Mercedes-Benz.
On Wednesday, Betsy Alexandra Cacho Medina (30), Rodney Choute (38), and Kimberly Michelle Johnson (34) were arrested. They are being charged with organized scheme to defraud and multiple counts of identity fraud.
A fourth suspect's arrest, Nelson Ronaldo Garcia-Medina (20), was announced on Thursday, according to Local 10. He is the brother of a fellow suspect and allegedly used the funds to purchase a pair of sneakers for $130.
The four will face 15-30 years behind bars, if convicted. Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and that there could be more co-conspirators.
The probe was conducted by detectives from Surfside, Aventura and Miami-Dade, as well as investigators from the US Marshals, the US Secret Service, and the Postal Inspectors.
Victims' families noticed strange activity
The development comes more than two months after Champlain Towers South suddenly collapsed in the middle of the night, killing 98 people in one of the worst building failures in US history.
The cause of the June 24 collapse remains under federal and state investigation, although experts have pointed out that there appeared to be flaws in the structural integrity and design of the building.
About a month after the collapse, relatives of the dead began reporting that thieves were taking out credit cards in the names of their loved ones.
The sister of one victim killed in the Surfside condo collapse told the Miami Herald in July that she first noticed strange emails popping up on her sister Ana Ortiz's iPad the night before the funeral. The emails detailed password changes to bank accounts and credit cards, new addresses and contact information, withdrawals, and expensive purchases.
"I was home writing the eulogy. I don’t know why, but I looked down. I saw notifications from Wells Fargo. I saw emails with money transfers. I didn’t even know she had a Wells Fargo account," Nicole Ortiz said.
"It was crazy. These people are professional. Who would do something like this?" she added.
Sergio Lozano also filed a report after he noticed activity in his late mother's bank accounts. He told WFOR he felt betrayed.
"I don’t find a more despicable crime than stealing from the dead."
Cover photo: Collage: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire