A successful Miami engine repair company is suing its former manager, accusing him and his wife of stealing more than $3 million over seven years and using the money to pay for cars and the mortgage on their $2.4 million home in Davie.
Eduardo Martinez, 41, was charged with fraud and grand theft in Miami-Dade County last week. The company he’s accused of robbing, TAC Armature of Miami, filed a lawsuit against him and his wife last year in Broward County.
“They bought a house with the stolen money,” said Elias Hilal, an attorney representing TAC Armature in the civil case. The house, according to the lawsuit, is worth $2.4 million, less than what was stolen over the seven-year period, according to the criminal charges.
The posh home is north of Flamingo Gardens and Robbins Preserve in Davie, just east of Flamingo Road and north of Griffin Road.
According to the lawsuit, Martinez authorized multiple payments toward the home’s mortgage from TAC Armature. Martinez and his wife, who is named in the lawsuit but has not been charged with a crime, also are accused of setting up dummy companies with names similar to established corporations that do business with TAC. The similarity allowed them to avoid detection for unauthorized payments.
TAC provides engine repair services for air conditioning systems and other machinery, and the company counts the Broward School District among its clients. Its vendors include Grainger and Superior Essex. According to the lawsuit and the criminal charges, Martinez created Florida companies with the names “Graingers” and “Essex Superior.”
The attorney representing Martinez and his wife in the civil case did not return a call and an email seeking comment.
Martinez faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison in the criminal case. The next hearing in the civil case is set for Dec. 4 before Broward Circuit Judge William Haury.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457.