Valerie Meza-Faublack of Hollywood, previously convicted for a rental scam, has found herself once again on the wrong side of the law. According to NBC Miami, the 23-year-old is now facing charges for armed robbery and attempted murder following an incident that occurred in a Hialeah warehouse parking lot on January 6. Meza-Faublack is accused of shooting at a man she later falsely claimed had attempted to rape her.
When police arrived at the scene, Meza-Faublack recounted a story where she was assaulted and fired upon by the supposed perpetrator. However, the man told police a vastly different story, claiming that Meza-Faublack herself had taken his gun and opened fire. Surveillance footage reviewed by authorities showed Meza-Faublack shooting into the victim's car, as per NBC Miami's reporting. While the story took a turn for the dramatic, none of Meza-Faublack's shots struck the man.
Local 10 News noted Meza-Faublack's prior record, detailing her engagement in real estate fraud, posing as 'Hamanda', deceiving prospective tenants in Little Havana, and siphoning security deposits. Now, with these charges stacking upon her prior convictions, she adds on allegations such as felon in possession of a firearm and filing a false police report, not to mention the attempted murder accusation.
Authorities have pieced together the chain of events, suggesting a stark contrast to Meza-Faublack's claims. The police report, as explained by Local 10 News, indicates that she was the aggressor, and at no point did the victim attempt to sexually assault or shoot at her. In a belied attempt to retrieve her cellphone, she fired 15 shots, none of which managed to harm the man. She is now being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with an additional immigration hold due to her Venezuelan nationality.
