Rafael Evelio Barceló, a 67-year-old resident of Hialeah, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Miami-Dade County. He faces first-degree felony charges for allegedly withdrawing $86,000 from the bank accounts of his elderly parents, aged 90 and 88, local media reported.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle presented the case alongside County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Barceló has been charged with three counts: exploitation of the elderly for more than $50,000, grand theft from a person over 65, and organized fraud scheme.
The Alleged Fraud Unveiled
Following the pandemic, the elderly couple gave power of attorney to their daughter for medical decisions, while Barceló took control of their finances and bank accounts.
In December 2024, the father experienced a fall that resulted in a fractured left shoulder, leading to a decline in both physical and mental health.
It was during this vulnerable time, according to the prosecution, that Barceló began depleting their accounts through two transactions:
1- In January 2025, he issued a $34,000 check to his own son, labeled as "a gift."
2- A month later, he withdrew another $52,000 via a cashier's check.
The family became aware of these suspicious activities when the daughter took her parents to the bank to examine their accounts.
By then, almost all of the couple's life savings had vanished.
“They were very distressed. The victims immediately withdrew the only remaining $7,000 from their savings account. [He] left them with just $70 in their checking account,” Fernández Rundle recounted.
Attempts to Institutionalize Without Consent
Authorities are also probing Barceló's alleged effort to place his parents in a care facility against their will, despite the couple's desire to remain in their longtime home since 1972.
The father passed away in November 2025, nine months after the family discovered the financial depletion.
Abuse of Trust and Legal Consequences
The prosecution accuses the son of breaching his trust. “Rafael Barceló allegedly abused his position as a trusted son and partial caregiver to exploit his parents, enriching himself and another family member, specifically his son, by withdrawing those $86,000, which was everything the couple had,” stated Fernández Rundle.
Barceló's son, the recipient of the $34,000 check, declined to comment.
The accused's bail was set at $22,500, and he remains held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade.
“These are our parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbors, and they deserve to age with dignity, feel secure, and know where to turn for help when needed,” concluded Mayor Levine Cava.
Growing Issue of Elder Exploitation in Florida
Barceló's arrest marks the twelfth by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Elderly and Vulnerable Adults Exploitation Unit in four years of operation.
Florida ranks second in the nation for fraud victims aged 60 and older: in 2025, 17,147 victims were reported with losses totaling $709.8 million, an 83% increase from the previous year, according to FBI data.
Miami-Dade hosts the largest population of residents aged 65 and over in the state, with approximately 472,000 individuals, of whom nearly 106,000 live alone.
In recent months, Miami-Dade has witnessed similar cases of financial exploitation of the elderly, including Alejandro Díaz Torriente, sentenced to 20 years in prison in August 2026 for taking over the home and savings of a 94-year-old woman.
Another case involves a mother and son facing charges for exploiting an elderly woman over a span of at least three years.
Understanding Elderly Financial Abuse in Florida
What charges does Rafael Evelio Barceló face?
Rafael Evelio Barceló is charged with exploitation of the elderly for over $50,000, grand theft from a person over 65, and an organized fraud scheme.
How did the alleged financial exploitation occur?
The alleged exploitation occurred after Barceló gained control of his parents' finances. He issued a check for $34,000 to his son and withdrew another $52,000 via a cashier's check, depleting their accounts.
How significant is elder financial abuse in Florida?
Florida ranks second in the U.S. for fraud victims aged 60 and older, with significant financial losses reported annually, emphasizing the growing problem of elder financial exploitation in the state.