Miami-Dade authorities have arrested 21 suspects so far in a crackdown on alleged “credit bust out” schemes, according to the sheriff’s office. The operation, dubbed “Operation Lien to Clean,” targets individuals accused of fraudulently purchasing millions of dollars’ worth of vehicles.
Credit bust outs occur when someone buys multiple vehicles in a short period before the purchases appear on their credit reports, or manipulates their credit history to hide negative activity. Often, the vehicles are illegally subleased on the black market or retitled in other states.
Among those charged, Joan Alfonso allegedly helped facilitate multiple vehicle purchases using fraudulent income claims, while Omar Guardia faces 30 counts related to the scheme.
So far, the investigation has uncovered at least 100 fraudulently purchased vehicles worth more than $5.5 million. Authorities have recovered 53 vehicles valued at $4,375,484.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz noted the broader impact of these crimes: financial losses for institutions ultimately raise costs for families, small businesses, and consumers, with small, family-owned dealerships hit especially hard.
NBC6 reports previous cases in the county, including a man charged with a $700,000 fraud involving 14 vehicles, another with $464,000 in fraud involving seven vehicles, and an influencer accused of obtaining multiple BMWs. Officials say more arrests are expected.
“Miami-Dade is a prime target for credit bust-out fraud, but we will not let organized criminals or corrupt insiders treat our county like an open marketplace. Not on my watch,” Cordero-Stutz said.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Reply