An employee of the City of Hollywood's Building/Zoning Department, named Roberto Meneses, has been arrested on multiple charges including bribery and extortion, according to officials. As reported by Local 10 News, Meneses, who is 38, was booked into Broward County Main Jail on Wednesday and is facing charges such as bribery by a public servant, unlawful compensation, obtaining property under $20,000 by fraud, and grand theft.
The investigation that began in May came to a conclusion with Meneses surrendering to police on Wednesday, taken into custody subsequently. A city spokesperson confirmed that "The months-long investigation revealed Mr. Meneses, a Zoning Plans Reviewer & Inspector, utilized his official position to victimize numerous homeowners, contractors, and permit runners for personal monetary gain," in a statement that Local 10 News obtained. Currently, his bond is set at $7,000 following the arrest.
Accusations against Meneses suggest a pattern of exploiting individuals seeking assistance with permitting issues, as detailed by arrest records covered by NBC Miami. Meneses allegedly offered to correct a fire permit code error for a price of $300 in one instance. In total, he was accused of unlawfully collecting over $4,500.
Further investigation uncovered Zelle records with multiple payments made to Meneses believed to be for permit-related services, indicating more potential victims. One person alleged that she sent Meneses $480 through Zelle for a fire permit issue and to deal with an HOA issue, while payment amounts stated in the affidavit showed that another person paid over $1,000 for resolving yet another permit issue. After his arrest, Meneses appeared before a judge who confirmed the $7,000 bond, encapsulating the breadth of the allegations and the asserted abuse of his position.
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