A former interim executive director of the Wynwood Business Improvement District was charged on Apr. 14 with stealing more than $192,000 from the Miami arts district organization.
The case concerns Florentino Antonio Diaz, 45, who allegedly diverted funds from the Wynwood BID’s bank accounts to his personal accounts and concealed these transfers by altering bank statements. According to an arrest warrant issued by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Diaz superimposed vendor names over his own in documents sent to the BID’s accountant.
Diaz faces 26 counts of third degree grand theft—one for each wire transfer from the BID’s TD Bank account to his Citibank account—as well as charges of second degree grand theft, scheme to defraud, and forgery. His bond was set at $46,000. Attempts to reach Diaz for comment were unsuccessful.
The Wynwood BID is an independent government agency representing more than 400 property owners in Miami’s roughly 50-block Wynwood Arts District. The organization has played a role in neighborhood redevelopment since its formation in 2013 and collects assessments from members for improvements such as streetscapes and safety initiatives.
According to authorities, suspicions arose last spring when $46,336 went missing from BID accounts. Investigators allege that Diaz forged Vice Chair Daniel Whyte’s signature on a letter instructing TD Bank to transfer funds directly into his personal account during a transition period when funds were being moved between banks. Police analysis later uncovered another 26 questionable transfers totaling $146,216 dating back to 2023.
Diaz served as interim executive director from September 2024 until resigning last May; he previously worked as a project manager for the group. The BID was recertified in 2023 for another decade and is expected to collect about $1.7 million per year.
