Miami‑Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle held a news conference Thursday to detail criminal charges filed against two men accused of running a kickback scheme that siphoned money from the Venetian Gardens at Country Club of Miami homeowners association.
Alleged scheme
According to the indictment, Carlos Jose Mejia, the property manager for Venetian Gardens, collaborated with Richard Thomas Murray, owner of AP Construction Solutions. Investigators say Murray’s companies paid Mejia disguised kickbacks labeled as loan agreements. The money was deposited into Mejia’s personal accounts while Murray’s firm secured contracts from the association.
The contract amounts were allegedly inflated. An arrest affidavit states that Murray’s company issued more than $180,000 to Mejia between October 2024 and September 2025. The inflated contracts allowed the contractor to profit at the expense of the homeowners.
Impact on residents
Fernandez Rundle warned that the scheme contributed to serious maintenance problems throughout the complex, including plumbing failures and roofing deficiencies. “Carlos Jose Mejia had a duty to serve those residents at the Venetian Gardens. Instead he engaged in a scheme to line his own pockets at the expense of every single owner,” she said. “All the while the property became unbearable and perhaps dangerous as it crumbled around its residents.”
Charges
Mejia faces ten counts of receiving a kickback and one count of organized scheme to defraud. Murray is charged with one count of organized scheme to defraud.
Authorities say a former salesman associated with the condo and one of Murray’s employees came forward with information that led to the investigation.
Legal process
The defendants are expected to appear before a Miami‑Dade judge later this month. If convicted, they could face significant prison time and restitution orders to compensate the homeowners association for the alleged losses.
The case underscores the importance of vigilant oversight of homeowners associations and the need for transparent contracting practices to protect residents from financial abuse.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
