Miami-Dade sheriff announces 22 tag agency fraud scheme arrests

www.local10.com, Chris Gothner, February 20, 2026

DORAL, Fla. — The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office announced several arrests in a fraud scheme involving motor vehicle tag agencies on Friday.

“Operation Ghost Writer” involved a six-month investigation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Miami-Dade Tax Collector’s Office.

Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said 22 suspects were arrested.

MDSO identified those arrested as:

Joan Alfonso, 29, of North Port

Jesus Campos-Ricardo, 37, of Hialeah

Emma Castillo, 69, of Pembroke Pines

Ricardo Castillo, 74, of west Miami-Dade

Marvin Codio, 37, of El Portal

Jose Daza-Espinosa, 56, of Pembroke Pines

Lindon Donoso, 54, of northwest Miami-Dade

Gianna Donoso, 21, of northwest Miami-Dade

Belkis Escobar-Navarro, 31, of Hialeah

Martha Gonzalez-Rosa, 48, of Miami Gardens

Jorge Jamieson, 60, of Pembroke Pines

Yoan Lopez-Perez, 41, of Miami Gardens

Naomis Marquez-Gonzalez, 34, of Hialeah

Frank Martinez, 48, of Miami Gardens

Jose Menendez-Mederos, 42, of Miami Gardens

Ronaldo Morales-Maldonado, 45, of west Miami-Dade

Yurilexis Munoz, 50, of Naples

Angelica Reyes-Sanchez, 36, of northwest Miami-Dade

Hugo Rodriguez, 60, of Hollywood

Lourdes Valdes, 58, of Hialeah

Graciela Valdez, 63, of Miami Gardens

Alba Vallecillo-Martinez, 39, of southwest Miami-Dade

Cordero-Stutz says the information was misused to conduct fraudulent vehicle title transactions, with some clerks collaborating with vehicle dealers to falsify signatures and create fraudulent power-of-attorney documents.

The suspects face charges including official misconduct, providing false information on a public record, vehicle title, forgery and alteration, tampering with physical evidence and uttering forged instruments.

News article: Miami-Dade sheriff announces 22 tag agency fraud scheme arrests