Miami, FL - Eight elevator mechanics in Miami-Dade County are facing charges after they allegedly paid hundreds of dollars to have someone take their required state certification exams.
According to State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the eight mechanics, identified as Xael Concepcion-Vargas, Jose Cuevas-Romero, Ramon Fleitas, Marcos Garcia, Hugo Marte, Gabriel Ortiz, Jose Tirado-Blanco and Frederick Williams each paid $250 to $400 to have David Valles-Gomez take the competency exam in their names.
Fernandez Rundle announced the arrests on Thursday in what the State Attorney's office is describing as a “cheating scheme."
Fernandez Rundle said Gabriel Alfonso acted as a middleman in the scheme and that Valles-Gomez would pocket about $200 to $300.
The exam was online and open-book.
According to authorities, county officials began looking into the case in September of 2021 after the International Union of Elevator Constructors reported that “several” mechanics participated in a scheme to cheat on the exam.
All eight face third-degree felony charges of organized scheme to defraud and criminal cheating.
Alfonso and Valles-Gomez face additional charges due to their alleged roles in running the scheme.