🎧 Listen: In today's episode of The Journal podcast, KonradPutzier tells the story of a Miami couple who stole millions of dollars using Florida's empty mansions and penthouses—and how they eventually got caught
This transcript was prepared by a transcription service. This version may not be in its final form and may be updated.
Konrad Putzier: Their victims, they owned these incredibly valuable homes and cars in Miami, but they can't physically be in Miami for various reasons. So these people can't actually go to their houses and they have no idea in many cases what's going on at these properties. And these people basically decided, "Wow, those are the perfect targets for us."
Donald Trump: Today we are announcing additional sanctions against the repressive regime targeting Maduro's inner circle and close advisors. Ryan Knutson: Hard money lenders charge high interest rates to people who want to take out loans against the value of their real estate. Unlike banks, though, these hard money lenders aren't required to ask for many documents. And because these loans can be quite lucrative, they often don't. In some cases, all a person needs is a passport matching the name on a deed. But to pull it off, Castañeda and Martusciello needed help.
Ryan Knutson: The group also set their sites on a $5 million mansion in South Miami with six bedrooms, a lap pool with a separate guest house and a private movie theater. The home was owned by Samark Lopez Bello, a Venezuelan billionaire who's also on a US most wanted list with a $5 million bounty for his arrest. He's been accused of money laundering and sanctions evasion. He's denied the allegations.
Ryan Knutson: Oh my God. To get the mansion ready for its appraisal, they decided to clean it up a bit. But when one of their accomplices went around with a leaf blower, it nearly got them caught. Ryan Knutson: They were getting comfortable. At one point, Castañeda and a friend squatted in one of Lopez Bello's condos at the Four Seasons. Castañeda would be seen walking around in Gucci sweatpants. And when Konrad and a colleague were reporting this story and went to go check out one of the luxury buildings where Castañeda lived, staff there remembered him vividly.
Ryan Knutson: The tellers were already watching out for her. After the off-duty cop took Hansen's passport, he walked out to the car she arrived in and peered inside.
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