Miami Lakes Attorney Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in Connection with Multi-Million Dollar Embezzlement Scheme

MIAMI – A Miami Lakes attorney made his initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 28 to face charges in connection with a scheme to embezzle millions of dollars in investment funds entrusted to his attorney trust account.

According to court documents, Rodolfo Mario Blanco, 60, was retained to serve as an escrow agent for an investment fund. Between September and December 2023, Blanco received several million dollars from corporate and individual investors into his attorney trust account under the false pretense that he would securely hold the funds on behalf of investors and the fund.

Beginning in November 2023 and continuing through July 2024, Blanco allegedly made a series of large teller transfers, cash withdrawals, and wire transfers from his trust account, including two substantial transfers used to purchase a residence in the Miami area. During this time, Blanco is alleged to have made multiple false representations to investors and fund directors regarding the status and balance of the trust account.

It is alleged that in February and April 2024, Blanco emailed fund directors falsely claiming that he could not release the investment funds because his trust account was subject to diligence and compliance reviews. Blanco allegedly included fabricated bank communications and falsified account screenshots to support these misrepresentations.

Blanco is charged with 11 counts of wire fraud and 11 counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. If convicted, Blanco faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and ten years for each money laundering count.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement.  

FBI Miami is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling M. Paulson is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20465.

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