Bank Employee Arrested for Stealing $500,000 from Disabled Client

MIAMI-DADE, Florida — A former Bank of America employee has been arrested for allegedly stealing $500,000 from a disabled woman in southwest Miami-Dade, authorities reported. Mario Martinez, 40, faces multiple charges, including exploitation of the elderly or disabled adult, organized fraud, and first-degree grand theft.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation on Jan. 16 after a supervisor at the bank reported suspicious activity involving Martinez. According to the arrest affidavit, he had secured a joint account with the victim without her knowledge and was moving money from her account into his own.

During a press conference, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle detailed the case, explaining that the victim, 42 years old and unable to walk, had known Martinez since 2016. He had previously assisted her in opening at least one bank account.

After the victim received a large inheritance, she sought financial help. Rundle conveyed the victim’s experience, saying, “The victim recalls entering the bank and expressing to the subject that she recently inherited a large sum of money.” Martinez then presented himself as a financial advisor, assuring her he could help manage her newfound wealth.

Investigation revealed that Martinez had falsely claimed to be a financial advisor. In December 2024, Bank of America conducted an internal review and informed the victim about the unauthorized transactions that had been taking place. This prompted both the bank and the victim to report the scheme to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

<p“The investigation ultimately discovered that Martinez utilized the victim’s trust and his bank position to allegedly steal over half a million dollars,” Rundle stated. Investigators found that Martinez had managed to bypass bank alerts and internal systems to avoid detection until the bank acted.

Martinez was arrested following the bank’s report of his conduct. The investigation continues as authorities gather more details about his actions.