Former Hialeah Police Chief Arrested for Misusing Narcotics Funds

Arrest of Former Hialeah Police Chief

• 🚨 Body camera video shows the arrest of former Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velasquez during a traffic stop by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Priority Response Team.
• 😮 Velasquez appeared shocked by the arrest, with his hands up as officers surrounded his vehicle.

Allegations of Fraud and Misuse of Funds

• 💰 Detectives allege Velasquez used public money meant for narcotics investigations to fund his lavish lifestyle.
• 💸 Between 2016 and 2021, it's alleged that more than $1 million disappeared from funds tied to court-awarded civil forfeitures.
• 🕵️ Prosecutors state these funds were never logged or turned in and were instead used for personal spending.

Lavish Spending and Financial Irregularities

• ⌚ Documents reveal a paper trail of transactions, including the purchase of two Rolex watches totaling over $68,000 and payments for a Mercedes lease.
• 📊 The state attorney's office claims at least $635,000 was spent on personal items.
• 🏦 After Velasquez left the department, investigators found over $2.6 million unaccounted for, with money allegedly moving from the chief's office safe to his bank accounts.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

• ⚖️ The former chief is facing several charges, including organized fraud.
• 🗓️ He is due back in court in August to address these allegations.