State Attorney Probes A3 in Wynwood Amid BID Fraud Arrest

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle's office is investigating activities related to A3, according to sources confirmed by CBS News Miami. The probe, handled by the Public Corruption Unit at 1350 NW 12th Ave., Miami, connects to ongoing Wynwood area concerns but lacks a public timeline or details from the State Attorney's Office website. This development unfolds against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny on local public funds in the arts district bounded by NW 20th to 36th streets and I-195. Just last week, Fernandez Rundle and Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales detailed the arrest of Florentino Antonio Diaz, 40, former interim executive director of the Wynwood BID, during a press conference streamed on YouTube. An arrest warrant, signed by a judge, accuses Diaz of 27 counts of grand theft, one count of organized scheme to defraud and one count of forgery for allegedly stealing over $192,000. Investigators cited a forged letter on official Wynwood BID letterhead with chair Veronica White's signature, directing TD Bank to release a $46,300 interest check from the Public Benefit Trust Fund directly to Diaz. Further evidence from the May 2026 news conference revealed Diaz allegedly diverted wire transfers meant for legitimate vendors into his personal Banesco account, then altered TD Bank statements by superimposing vendor names to conceal the fraud. Original statements showed wires to Diaz's account, per the State Attorney's presentation. The Wynwood BID, a City of Miami entity funding public improvements along NW 2nd Avenue, now reconciles records amid the betrayal of public trust. This A3 investigation arrives as Wynwood grapples with Florida's surging foreclosures, third-worst nationally, driven by soaring insurance costs threatening property owners near landmarks like the Wynwood Walls. Public safety worries compound with a recent fatal DUI crash by a Cybertruck driver in Miami-Dade, echoing local crime concerns amid State Attorney probes into economic crimes at River Landing, 1400 NW North River Drive. Governor DeSantis' hurricane prep funds and infrastructure bills offer some relief, but diverted BID money highlights tensions in public resource allocation for residents facing economic pressures.