MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 27-year-old Miami-Dade woman faces charges for running a fraud scheme that investigators say netted her over half a million dollars in luxury vehicles, SUVs, and watercraft.
The suspect, identified by deputies as Katherine Suarez, was arrested Tuesday by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office after a months-long investigation by the agency’s Auto Theft Crimes Task Force, authorities confirmed in a Wednesday arrest report.
Detectives say Suarez carried out what’s known in the auto finance world as a credit bust-out.
Investigators allege that between October and November 2024, Suarez financed multiple high-value vehicles from various Miami-Dade dealerships using falsified employment and income information, before the purchases could appear on her credit report.
Among the targeted dealerships was Kendall Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, at 13355 SW 137th Ave., where Suarez is accused of obtaining a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon and a Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, according to the report.
Authorities said she also acquired luxury models including a Mercedes E-Class sedan, a BMW X7, and a Mercedes-Benz GLE, along with two Yamaha WaveRunners.
In total, detectives listed more than $512,000 in fraudulently obtained vehicles and watercraft, the report stated.
Authorities explained that schemes like this often involve reselling or renting vehicles on the black market or using “title washing” practices to illegally remove liens from vehicle titles.
Detectives said Suarez was read her Miranda rights and agreed to speak with investigators, though parts of her statement were redacted in the publicly released report.
Jail records show Suarez faces two counts of first-degree grand theft of less than $100,000, four counts of second-degree grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000, two counts of third-degree grand theft, and eight counts each of obtaining a vehicle by trick and illegally obtaining property through credit with a false statement.
As of Wednesday, she remained held on a $29,000 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Leave a Reply