An eighth arrest has been made in a years-long investigation into alleged theft and extortion at one of the largest homeowners associations in the state of Florida.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office on Friday announced charges against former Hammocks Homeowners Association accountant in connection with ongoing investigation.

Prosecutors say several HOA board members and their family members were funneling association funds to themselves and their friends, disguised as payments to vendors through shell companies.

Jesus Cue was a business and accounting consultant for the Hammocks Board of Owners between October 2018 and November 2022. During that time, prosecutors say Cue received $644,000 in payments from vendors.

According to the State’s Attorney’s office, three of the shell companies involved listed Cue’s company, Worldwide Business Solution Corp., as their registered agent and received nearly $500,000 in payments from HOA vendors.

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“No homeowner should have to worry about how their HOA handles association funds,” State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement.

Witness Dante Chauca, husband of former HOA board member Monica Ghilardi, was falsely listed as a “manager” in state documents for a fictitious vendor called Albri Consulting, LLC. According to Chauca, his wife allegedly ordered Cue to create a hidden salary for her under Albri Consulting without Chauca’s permission, prosecutors say.

“Our investigation into the thefts at Hammocks HOA has shed light on a crime that may be occurring across our state,” Fernandez Rundle said. “Those who feel that HOA funds are there for the taking have made a grave mistake. Today’s arrest should make that abundantly clear.”

Hammocks HOA is the largest homeowners association in the county and oversees 40 communities and more than 6,500 units in West Kendall.

Cue is the eighth person arrested in connection with the alleged robbery. His charges include extortion, money laundering and organized scheme to defraud more than $50,000.

In 2022, several current and former board members were arrested accused of stealing more than $2 million of residents’ money.