Ex-Kendall HOA president and her husband admit to roles in $2 million fraud
The former president of one of the largest homeowners associations in Florida — and her husband — admitted in court on Thursday afternoon to their roles in fleecing $2 million from residents’ monthly maintenance fees.
Standing in the jury box in orange jail attire, Marglli Gallego, 44, pleaded guilty to racketeering and grand-theft charges. Gallego’s husband, Juan Antonio Gonzalez, 49, entered a guilty plea to one count of money laundering. Gonzalez, who was wearing a blue, button-up shirt and khaki pants, patted the back of his attorney, Jude Faccidomo.
As a result of the plea, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson sentenced Gallego to seven years in prison followed by seven years of probation. She will get credit for the more than three years that she spent behind bars awaiting trial.
READ MORE: Cops: Miami-Dade HOA president stole nearly $60,000, hired private eye to spy on enemies
The judge sentenced Gonzalez to seven years of probation. He was also ordered to send the HOA a $50,000 check and deed the association a five-acre property that is at 17481 SW 192nd St. in South Miami-Dade and is worth $1.2 million.
“[Gallego] was able to infiltrate the HOA board, which became her cash cow in the ... scheme,” Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said during a news conference after the hearing.
Surrounded by lead prosecutor Mary Ernst, investigators and state lawmakers, Fernandez Rundle touted how the massive fraud probe led a “ferocious and immediate legislative response,” with new laws punishing HOA election fraud, prohibiting commingling of association funds and promoting greater transparency for residents’ access to HOA records. The state attorney also detailed investigators’ efforts during the years-long probe, including getting warrants to track down HOA records that were hidden.
Gallego was a longtime official with the Hammocks Community Association, which oversees 40 communities and over 6,500 units. Prosecutors say Gallego and several other HOA leaders were involved in a complex scheme that included the creation of several “shell companies” — including one listed under Gonzalez’s name — that netted more than $1.4 million between 2017 and 2022.
Don Kearns, the current HOA president, said homeowners knew something was wrong — and explored ways to fight back against the abuse of unjustified monthly fee hikes.
“We had no idea it was a criminal enterprise taking over our beloved neighborhood,” Kearns said. “This was a very complex case to solve. This was organized crime setting up shop in West Kendall.”
Due to the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed many other charges: Gallego was originally charged with a slew of offenses, including several counts of racketeering, organized scheme to defraud, money laundering and grand theft. Gonzalez was charged with racketeering, money laundering and grand theft.
“She accepted responsibility for these charges,” Gallego’s attorney, Sabino Jauregui, told reporters.
Gallego was also accused of using an HOA credit card for personal purchases, including at supermarkets, bakeries and fast-food restaurants, such as Pollo Tropical, Panera Bread and Little Caesars. She also used HOA resources to go after enemies, police say, ordering the community’s security to “harass” rival association members.
Police began investigating the HOA after residents voiced concerns about a “decline” in the association’s reserve funds, “excessive expenditures” and other undocumented spending, court documents say. Gonzalez, a vendor, was accused of fraudulently billing and overbilling the association for services.
READ MORE: Leaders of Florida’s largest homeowners association charged in $2 million fraud scheme
Also arrested in the fraud probe were Monica Ghilardi, 56, a former board member; Myriam Rodgers, 80, a former board member; Yoleidis Lopez, 50, a former board member; Kevin Alzate, 34, Gallego’s cousin; Ivan Diez, 59, who was accused of being behind a shell company; and Jesus Cue, 64, the association’s accountant.
Ghilardi and Rodgers struck plea deals. Ghilardi pleaded guilty to grand theft and perjury and was sentenced to a year in prison followed by 12 years of probation. Rodgers received a withhold of adjudication, meaning no criminal conviction will appear on her record, and was ordered to complete five years of probation.
The other cases remain open.
The Hammocks Community Association consists of more than 18,000 people, in 6,500 homes, townhouses and apartments, on almost 4,000 acres.
This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 1:33 PM.
