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Cuban businessman Manuel Francos, owner of the iconic club "Azúcar" in Miami, claims to have been deceived by a woman, an alleged contractor, whom he hired to carry out renovations in his establishment that were mandated by the city.
Francos, who identified the woman on television after she was arrested in a separate case, claims that the work was never carried out, despite having made payments and signed contracts.
"Geisy Valdés... hey, that last name sounded familiar. And that's when I saw the impact on the cameras, on the television," she remarked, referring to the moment she recognized her name in a news report.
The accused is Geisy Valdés Caballero, 48 years old, whose nationality of origin has not been disclosed.
A renovation that never happened
It all began in 2023, when the City of Miami imposed new structural requirements on Manuel Francos' location, requesting the renewal of the exterior roof and the construction of a dressing room with a bathroom.
"After 40 years in this business, I was told I had to make those changes," Francos explained in statements to Telemundo 51.
With the intention of meeting the new municipal requirements, the businessman sought a contractor to carry out the work.
It was then that he came into contact with Geisy Valdés Caballero, who introduced herself as a professional in the field and apparently qualified to carry out the renovation.
However, over time, his actions raised suspicions in the businessman.
Francos claims to have copies of contracts, checks, and bank deposit slips that he delivered to Valdés as part of the payment for the agreed-upon work.
However, as the months went by, the promises piled up, and the work never began.
He used to tell me, "Yes, Manolo... that hasn’t reached me... the air conditioners are already on the way." He kept up the dialogue, but he did absolutely nothing," laments Francos, who witnessed how the delays continued without any tangible progress.
The case that led her to prison
Although Francos' accusation has not yet been resolved, it is known that Geisy Valdés Caballero is currently detained for a different case, which also involves an unexecuted remodeling contract.
According to an official report, in 2023 he would have received $26,000 for a residential project that never started.
In his defense, Valdés reportedly assured the authorities that he offered a refund to the victim.
A final attempt at reconciliation and ongoing investigation
Desperate due to the lack of response and seeing no results, Francos was forced to hire another company to complete the work that Valdés never started.
Despite this, he did not lose hope of resolving the conflict peacefully.
According to his account, last month he sent a text message to Valdés in a final attempt to reach a resolution. Her response was simply "hello."
The complaint filed by Francos adds to an ongoing investigation against Geisy Valdés Caballero for her alleged involvement in fraudulent practices in her role as a supposed contractor.
The authorities continue to gather evidence to clarify the facts and determine if there are additional affected individuals.
As the case progresses in court, Manuel Francos' testimony serves as a warning for other business owners and property owners seeking remodeling services.
The call is to verify backgrounds, require valid licenses, and act swiftly at any sign of contractual non-compliance.
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