Mother, son accused of embezzling more than $620,000 from company

MEDLEY, Fla. — A former company president and her son are facing felony charges after Medley police say they embezzled more than $620,000.

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Medley police officers escorted Miguel Antonio Perez and his mother, Maria Rodriguez, from the police department to jail after the two were arrested Wednesday morning in Miami Beach.

They now face felony charges, including organized scheme to defraud and grand theft.

“The investigation revealed that company president Maria Rodriguez was entrusted with the company’s financial accounts, credit cards and payrolls,” said Andres Oviedo, a Medley police public information officer.

Police launched an undercover investigation, called Operation Iron Illusion, in April 2025 after officers responded to a report of financial fraud at Iron Container Holdings LLC.

Detectives found that Rodriguez allegedly used company funds for private luxury purchases, disguising them as miscellaneous company expenses.

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Police also say she hired her son, Perez, as a security guard, initially setting his salary at $42,000 a year.

According to warrants, Rodriguez later made the security guard position remote and increased Perez’s salary to $114,000. Investigators say Perez never actually performed any security duties.

The investigation found that the two allegedly used company credit cards to pay for a Brickell condo, an elite gym membership, designer clothing from Saks Fifth Avenue and car insurance.

The alleged spending also included rentals for a luxury yacht and a Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

“The fraud leaves a trail,” Oviedo said. “And trails can be followed.”

Police said they will continue using every available resource to investigate similar crimes.

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