A Florida woman who worked as a bookkeeper for homeowners associations has been accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance a lavish lifestyle that included plastic surgery and extravagant trips, according to police authorities. The Martin County Sheriff's Office issued an arrest warrant for Alexandra Delacaridad Gonzalez, a 46-year-old from Stuart, Florida, who is currently evading capture.
Details of the Alleged Fraud Scheme
Investigators report that Gonzalez, employed by Avant-Garde Property Management, systematically stole funds from HOA accounts over an extended period. She allegedly wrote checks to herself from these accounts and concealed the thefts by creating fictitious invoices and false ledger entries. Additionally, police say she forged the signatures of authorized account holders to facilitate the fraudulent transactions.
Lavish Spending of Stolen Funds
Records indicate that Gonzalez used the embezzled money for personal expenses, including shopping sprees, plastic surgery procedures, and lavish vacations. Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek told CBS12 that she "lived a lavish lifestyle for that year-long period" and noted that "as far as the money that she stole, there's none left to claw back. She spent it all."
Legal Charges and Current Status
Gonzalez faces multiple serious charges, including two counts of fraud exceeding $50,000, two counts of grand theft, 61 counts of uttering false instruments, and 59 counts of embezzlement. Her bond has been set at $1.35 million, reflecting the severity of the alleged crimes. Authorities believe she may be in the Miramar or Vero Beach areas and are actively seeking information about her whereabouts.
Property Management Company's Response
Liz Diaz, owner of Avant-Garde Property Management, addressed the situation in a statement to WPBF 25 News. "Upon learning of the potential loss caused by Ms. Alexandra Gonzalez, we immediately notified our clients and law enforcement, and then we promptly assisted and fully cooperated with our clients and law enforcement to protect our clients and the communities we serve," Diaz said. She added that the company wants "to see justice for our clients" and will continue cooperating with prosecution and restitution efforts.
Investigation and Community Impact
The Martin County Sheriff's Office has urged anyone with information about Gonzalez's location or who believes their HOA may have been affected by similar fraudulent activity to contact them. The case highlights vulnerabilities in property management financial controls and the significant impact such crimes can have on community associations and their members.
