A former company president and her son are accused of taking more than $620,000 from a South Florida business and using company money to support a lifestyle that included yachts, luxury cars, designer clothing and a Brickell condominium.
Maria Rodriguez, 60, and her son, Miguel Antonio Perez, 34, were arrested Wednesday after an investigation into financial losses at Iron Container Holdings in Medley, according to NBC Miami.
Police say Rodriguez had access to the company’s financial accounts, credit cards, records and payroll while serving as its president. Investigators accuse her of using that access to direct company money toward personal expenses while disguising purchases in the books as miscellaneous business costs.
The arrangement also put her son on the company’s payroll as a security guard.
Police Say Company Money Was Hidden as Miscellaneous Expenses
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Medley Police launched what it called Operation Iron Illusion in April 2025 after receiving a report of financial fraud at Iron Container Holdings, a company that manufactures metal containers and dumpsters.
Detectives reviewed credit card statements, payroll information and other company records as they traced financial activity involving Rodriguez and Perez.
Investigators concluded that more than $620,000 had been improperly taken from the company in a scheme they say operated from 2020 through 2025. WSVN reported that personal spending was allegedly concealed in company records as miscellaneous expenses.
The Spending Included Yachts, a Mercedes and a Brickell Condo
Police say Rodriguez hired Perez as a security guard at an annual salary of $42,000. The position later became remote and his salary increased to $114,000. According to Local 10, investigators say Perez never actually performed security duties for the company.
Detectives identified more than $454,000 in disputed payroll, according to WSVN. They also found 49 instances in which Perez’s work records allegedly conflicted with records showing activity at a gym.
Investigators say company credit cards and funds were used for expenses far removed from running the container business. Police identified payments connected to a Brickell condominium, an elite gym membership, designer clothing from Saks Fifth Avenue and car insurance.
The alleged spending also included luxury yacht rentals and a Mercedes-Benz S-Class rental. Authorities say the purchases benefited Rodriguez and Perez while being paid with company money.
The Mother and Son Face Multiple Felony Charges
Medley Police arrested Rodriguez and Perez on Aug. 19 in Miami Beach before taking them to jail. Police said they face felony charges including grand theft, organized scheme to defraud and conspiracy to commit organized scheme to defraud.
Initial reporting said both were being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bonds set at $30,000 each. The charges remain accusations and have not been proven in court. Police said the investigation involved records covering several years and that the department intends to continue examining suspected financial crimes involving businesses.
Payroll and Expense Fraud Can Leave Patterns in Company Records
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners recommends separating important accounting duties and independently reconciling bank and credit card statements, payroll registers and expense reports. Having someone other than the person who processes payments regularly review those records can expose unexplained compensation or personal spending sooner.
Payroll deserves its own scrutiny. A substantial salary increase, a position that becomes remote, repeated timekeeping inconsistencies or compensation that does not appear to match an employee’s responsibilities can warrant an independent review rather than being accepted solely because a senior executive approved it.
The ACFE also publishes anti-fraud data analytics tests designed to identify payroll and expense anomalies. Its recommendations include looking for sudden changes in employee time patterns, comparing expenses across employees and job roles, and investigating transactions with missing or unusual supporting information.
If internal theft is suspected, businesses should preserve payroll records, credit card statements, invoices, access logs and other relevant documentation before restricting the suspected employee’s access to financial systems. Banks and card issuers should be contacted quickly about unauthorized transactions, and suspected criminal theft should be reported to law enforcement rather than handled solely as an internal accounting problem.