Bugle Miami

Miami couple arrested for stealing millions

A Miami couple was arrested Friday for stealing an estimated $2.5 million.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Marianela Armenteros, 40, and Yamir Gonzalez-Betancourt, 49, were arrested in Miami-Dade and charged with grand theft over $100,000.

According to detectives, both Armenteros and Gonzalez-Betancourt worked for Key West Fisheries. The owner of the fish house contacted the sheriff’s office in 2021 about the pair stealing money.

Detectives say an investigation revealed that Armenteros had been fraudulently putting thousands of commercial stone crab and lobster tags under her name instead of the names of the fishermen, as well as placing boats under her name without permission. This caused the fishermen to be unable to sell their product to the company, and cost the fish house and fishermen at least $2.5 million in lost revenue.

The sheriff’s office also said Gonzalez-Betancourt was selling lobsters directly to exporters, instead of selling them through the fish house. This caused the fish house to lose more than $100,000.

Both Armenteros and Gonzalez-Betancourt are being transported to Monroe County, where they will be prosecuted.

Armenteros is being held on $400,000 bond, while Gonzalez-Betancourt is being held on $100,000 bond.

More
Stories:

Recommended