SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. — A former manager of a South Miami restaurant is accused of defrauding his employer out of more than $50,000 through a catering scam, police said.
According to the South Miami Police Department, Inaki Olabarri Jauregi, 38, of Miami, was arrested Thursday after an investigation revealed he diverted catering payments from customers into his personal bank account while working at Cala Millor, located at 4000 SW 57th Ave.
Police said the restaurant’s owner contacted them on Oct. 17 to report suspected fraud and embezzlement. Olabarri Jauregi had worked as the restaurant manager and catering director from March 2023 until his resignation on Sept. 30, 2025.
When he left the job, he was told to return a company-issued MacBook Air, which he did on Oct. 3 after claiming he needed time to erase personal data. However, the owner later found that the laptop’s password had been changed. With help from Apple, the owner regained access and uncovered bank records showing Zelle transfers from Cala Millor customers to Olabarri Jauregi’s personal account between January 2024 and September 2025.
Investigators say he pocketed $50,808.22 in payments intended for catering events. Police also discovered that on Aug. 5, while still employed by Cala Millor, Olabarri Jauregi registered his own catering business, Catering by the Lab LLC, which operated from the home of another restaurant employee.
After his arrest, Olabarri Jauregi initially agreed to talk to detectives but later refused to answer questions about the restaurant’s transactions.
He now faces multiple charges, including organized fraud, grand theft, computer-related offenses, and embezzlement of trade secrets.
As of Friday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $25,000 bond.
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