**Former Brickell Bay Condominium Manager Arrested in $140,000 ‘Ghost Employee’ Scheme**
MIAMI (WSVN) — A former property manager at The Club at Brickell Bay Condominium has been arrested and charged with orchestrating a “ghost employee” scheme that allegedly defrauded the association of more than $140,000 over several years, authorities report.
According to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, 37-year-old Yissely Herrouet, a Licensed Community Association Manager, created fake employees—some of them her own relatives—and billed the condominium for services that were never performed or for duplicated work already covered by other contractors.
Herrouet now faces charges including organized scheme to defraud and grand theft, both first-degree felonies. Additional charges include offenses against computer users and making false entries in business records.
Investigators say the scheme took place between 2016 and 2023, during Herrouet’s employment with one of the nation’s largest property management firms. Discrepancies were discovered during a forensic financial review conducted by attorneys with Stearns Weaver Miller, leading the management company to refer the case to the State Attorney’s Office.
“Thefts from condominiums and homeowners’ associations continue to be a major priority of my Economic Crimes prosecutors, as too many of these property owners have been victimized by thefts,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Investigators confirmed that none of the individuals listed on Herrouet’s falsified records had ever worked for the management company or the association. Authorities also allege that Herrouet used her position to hire a cleaning vendor owned by a family member.
The investigation is ongoing.
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