Crime & Public Safety
Hialeah man arrested after detectives say he withdrew $86K from elderly parents' accounts
Hialeah police arrested 67-year-old Rafael Evelio Barcelo Wednesday, accusing him of stealing about $86,000 from his 90-year-old father and 86-year-old mother’s joint accounts through two withdrawals in January and February 2025. An arrest warrant and jail records allege a Jan. 17 $34,000 check made payable to “Shophar LLC,” marked “gift” and signed by Barcelo, was deposited into a business account controlled by Barcelo’s son; the couple told investigators they did not authorize or recognize the transaction. Authorities say Barcelo had been handling the couple’s finances and used that position of trust to make the withdrawals without their consent; he faces felony charges related to the two transactions. The case remains under investigation and Barcelo is in custody pending prosecution. All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.