A former Naples property manager sought in connection with alleged fraudulent money practices at a number of Southwest Florida condo developments has reportedly been arrested and imprisoned in Colombia.
The Sunday edition of the Argentinian online newspaper infobae reported that Orlando Miserandino Ortiz, 55, was captured in Colombia and remains imprisoned in LaPicota prison in Bogotá awaiting extradition.
His wife and business partner, Lina Posada, escaped capture, infobae’s article said.
The Argentinian newspaper also reported that the Bolivian-American businessman, known for his luxurious lifestyle and the acquisition of high-value assets such as private jets and a mansion in El Poblado, Medellín, faces extradition proceedings to the United States, where he is accused of embezzling funds from condominium associations in several locations across Florida.
Court records in Collier County Show nearly three dozen condo associations filed suit in 2022 against American Property Management Services, a company Ortiz operated, claiming millions were embezzled and records falsified.
Naples Attorney Jason Hamilton Mikes, representing the condo associations affected, remarked about the case:
"If someone cheats our established systems and institutions, they must be brought to justice. Otherwise, no one knows who or what to trust anymore. It leads to feelings of anxiety and dismay. Thankful he's been apprehended. Justice will be served. Faith can be restored in our financial institutions, our communities and in law enforcement and the legal system, I appreciate their efforts to make this happen."
The extent of Ortiz’s alleged fraud — which came to light in Southwest Florida in 2021 and 2022 -- could be more than $70 million, infobae reports.
As part of the case against Ortiz in Southwest Florida in 2022, communities affected alleged Ortiz misappropriated funds from their community funds. They asserted that Ortiz instead of placing funds properly in accounts he set up bank accounts at a Wells Fargo branch and put them only in his and APMS' name only. That left the community officials without an avenue to access.
As an upshot of Ortiz's alleged moves, many communities could not pay bills and some finding medical insurance premiums for association employees went unpaid. Some communities received threats of utility shutoffs and others had to scramble to pay for medical bills that had not been covered when the insurance was not paid.
Compounding the issues in 2022 was the disappearance of Ortiz and his wife, who was also his business partner. The couple was assumed to be in South America at the time but their definite whereabouts were unproven.
Ortiz also had other cases filed against him, according to Collier County court records.
American Express National Bank filed suit in February 2022 against Ortiz claiming breach of contract and other action over an unpaid nearly $300,000 American Express Business Platinum card balance.
A federal grand jury filed a 17-count indictment against Ortiz and his wife in January of 2024 charging them with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and failure to file income tax returns.
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