MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Two men were arrested Thursday for allegedly committing financial and corporate fraud at the Venetian Gardens at Country Club of Miami, authorities confirmed.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Local 10 News, Carlos Jose Mejia, 51, the property manager for Venetian Gardens at Country Club of Miami, and Richard Thomas Murray, 62, owner of AP Construction Solutions LLC, worked together on a kickback scheme that funneled nearly $190,000 out of a 288-unit condo association.
The scheme impacted hundreds of unit owners who were paying the HOA, official documents indicated.
Jail records show Mejia is facing 10 counts of violation of the Florida Condominium Act and one count of organized scheme to defraud.
Records show Murray is facing one count of organized scheme to defraud.
The case began after roofing salesman John Kenney filed a complaint around June 20, 2025, according to the arrest affidavits.
Kenney told investigators he brokered the introduction between Mejia and Murray, expecting a commission on any resulting contract, according to the warrants.
After the introduction, Mejia began dealing directly with Murray, and Kenney said he was cut out of the arrangement and never received a commission. When he asked why, Kenney said he obtained documents — including loan paperwork and a canceled check — indicating Murray had been paying Mejia kickbacks disguised as personal loans, according to the warrants.
Venetian Gardens and AP Construction signed their first contract in February 2024, with payments to the company beginning that August, according to the warrants.
Investigators subpoenaed banking records and traced eight checks from Murray’s company, US Murray Holdings Inc., to Mejia between October 2024 and May 2025, ranging from $2,000 to $100,000 and totaling $171,426.05, according to the warrants. Each check’s memo line read “Loan Agreement.”
Bank teller records showed the checks were cashed at a JPMorgan Chase branch, with proceeds split among cash, credit card payments and, in one case, a $50,000 cashier’s check made out to a third party, the affidavits state.
Two additional checks issued in July and September 2025 brought the total payments to Mejia to approximately $186,445.27, investigators said.
Mejia appeared before a judge in Miami-Dade County on Thursday and was granted a $40,000 bond. He remained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Thursday evening, while Murray was not listed among the jail’s inmates.
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