SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested an eighth suspect in connection with the alleged multimillion-dollar theft scheme that drained funds from the Hammocks Homeowners Association.
Jesus Cue was the HOA’s controller and accountant from 2018 to 2022. The 63-year-old faces multiple felony charges, including racketeering, unlawful compensation and money laundering, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
“He was paid about $161,000 a year,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Cue, who served as a business and accounting consultant for the HOA board through his company, Worldwide Business Solution Corp., is accused of using his position to funnel association funds to friends and relatives of HOA board members through fictional companies and associates, reportedly under the direction of former HOA officials.
“Jesus Cue is important, because he was the one who really designed all the shell corporations, and he had these shell companies that he would establish through, which a lot of the vendors would then submit what I believe, we believe, were fake invoices,” said Fernandez Rundle.
The HOA’s new president, Don Kerns, and vice president, Idalmen Ardisson, recall seeing him during an open board meeting.
“He was over his head,” said Ardisson. “They came and did a budget meeting, and people would ask him questions, and they would ask him, ‘How much do we have in reserves? How much do we have in this?’ And you could pretty quickly tell that this guy was trying to cover up, I don’t want to say cover up, but the numbers, you knew, weren’t accurate.”
Investigators said Cue received over $644,000 in payments during his four years with the HOA, yet testified that the association had no reserve funds and required a $375,000 loan to sustain operations.
Witnesses told investigators that some HOA board members set up fictitious companies to siphon HOA funds, with three of these companies allegedly linked to Cue’s business as their registered agent.
People who lived in The Hammocks were ripped off for years, paying skyrocketing fees that were allegedly lining the pockets of a crooked board instead of improving their community.
“I had one homeowner tell me, she looked at me, she said, ‘Don, I’ve got to make a decision every month. Do I pay the HOA, or do I feed my children?” said Kerns.
“This can’t be real. Well, it was real,” said Ardisson.
Combined, these entities received nearly $500,000 in payments, prosecutors said.
“No homeowner should have to worry about how their HOA is handling the association’s funds,” wrote Fernandez Rundle in a press release. “Our investigation of the thefts at the Hammocks HOA have shed a bright light on a crime that may be occurring throughout our state. Those who feel that an HOA’s funds are there for the taking have made a grievous error. Today’s arrest should make it blatantly clear.”
Cue’s arrest follows those of seven others, including former HOA board members and vendors accused of fraudulent billing practices, which investigators say contributed to a total misappropriation of over $6 million.
“That report has determined millions of dollars have been stolen,” said Fernandez Rundle.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is still investigating and determined to put every person who was involved in ripping off residents of Miami-Dade’s biggest HOA neighborhood behind bars.
“If you’ve been stealing, we’re going to catch up with you. If you’ve been doing good work and serving your neighbors in your community, thank you for your service,” said Fernandez Rundle.
“I am thoroughly overjoyed that justice is being served to the people who terrorized this community for so many years,” said Kerns. “So many people impacted, so many dollars taken.”
Cue is expected to appear in court in the coming days. If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison.
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