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Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez joined Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz following the arrests of 11 individuals as part of Operation Parking Denied, an ongoing investigation into an alleged fraudulent scheme involving the improper issuance of Disabled Person Parking Permits.
The investigation began after an audit conducted by the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s Office identified numerous Disabled Person Parking Permit applications suspected of having been fraudulently obtained. The Tax Collector’s Office subsequently referred its findings and supporting documentation to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Public Corruption Section for further investigation.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, investigators uncovered an alleged scheme in which brokers facilitated fraudulent applications for personal financial gain by providing applicants with disability certification forms containing forged physician signatures. Investigators also determined that physicians whose names appeared on certain applications had never treated or certified the individuals listed, while other applications were purportedly certified by a physician who died in 2025.
The arrests come as the Tax Collector’s Office reaches a significant milestone in its countywide audit. More than 75,000 applications have been reviewed, and more than 6,000 applications have failed final audit. Thousands of additional applications remain subject to review and verification.
“A disabled parking permit is not a privilege to be bought, forged or stolen,” Fernandez said. “It exists for people who genuinely need it. We will not tolerate anyone abusing that trust, and if you defraud this program, we will work with law enforcement to find you and hold you accountable.”
The Tax Collector’s Office launched the audit as part of a broader effort to strengthen oversight of the Disabled Person Parking Permit program and identify permits that may have been obtained improperly. As potentially criminal cases were identified, the Office began working closely with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and referring cases for investigation.
“More than 6,000 applications failing demonstrates why this review was necessary,” Fernandez said. “This is about protecting the integrity of the program and protecting the residents it was created to serve. We are going to continue the audit, continue working with Sheriff Cordero-Stutz and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and make clear that no one is above the law.”
The investigation remains ongoing, with additional investigative efforts continuing. The Tax Collector’s Office will continue reviewing applications and referring cases involving suspected criminal activity to law enforcement.
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