The Cuban dissident Héctor Luis Valdés Cocho, 33 years old, was arrested on November 19 in Orange County, Florida.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook that Valdés' arrest is related to two warrants issued outside the county, specifically in the Río Indio area.
According to the report, registered under reservation number 24031418, Valdés was located in Orlando and assigned to the cell identified as BRCMBFNA.
Valdés's arrest is related to an "arrest warrant issued outside the county," with a bail amount set at $2,000.00, according to the Recently Booked arrest records portal.
Although the report does not clearly specify the reasons for the arrest, Orange County Mugshots on Facebook indicated that it was related to a traffic violation charge.
According to the record, the reason was "Failure to Appear for Arraignment" for a moving violation, operating a motor vehicle with a valid license, which appears to be a first administrative offense.
The arrest of the young Cuban opposition figure comes amid a scandal involving scams, as Valdés is facing several allegations made on social media.
Raisel Isidrón, a Cuban activist residing in the United States, published a detailed denunciation on Facebook against Valdés, accusing him of using his activism as a facade to scam multiple individuals.
According to Isidrón, the accused, whom he once regarded as a brother in cause, used manipulative tactics to borrow money with no intention of paying it back: “Someone needs to put a stop to this shamelessness,” he wrote at the beginning of his post.
He reported that, about six months ago, Valdés asked him for a loan, claiming he needed it to buy a plane ticket for his mother, who was supposedly at the border and wanted to avoid the road trip.
However, the money was never used for that purpose: “He started telling me that he couldn't buy the ticket and that they would refund the money, but guess what? That never happened,” Isidrón stated, who also detailed a series of excuses that included promises of reimbursement through loans from third parties or financial aid that never materialized.
The complaint also details how Valdés allegedly continued to request money from other individuals, leaving a trail of unpaid debts. Isidrón mentioned that after repeatedly demanding his money, the accused blocked him on social media, although he maintained contact via WhatsApp, always making excuses and delays.
"What bothers me the most is that this scoundrel hasn't swindled informers or accomplices of the regime, but people who we considered brothers in the cause,” he expressed with indignation.
Cuban journalist Camila Acosta, who is also listed as a victim of the scams perpetrated by Héctor Luis Valdés Cocho, used her Facebook profile to share her experience and support others affected.
Acosta stated that although he would have preferred not to get involved in this distressing matter, he felt a responsibility to alert potential new victims: “It's a distressing, sad, and sinister issue. I did it because, first, I was a victim; second, in solidarity with other victims; and third, because I felt it was my duty to expose it.”
The journalist harshly criticized Valdés's response to the multiple allegations against him, describing it as a mockery. In light of this, she decided to delve deeper into the case and gather testimonies from those who have accused the activist of using his reputation in activism to fraudulently obtain money.
"It has forced me not to remain on the surface; it has given me a new responsibility: to finally lay it all out," he stated.
In his post, Acosta provided a list of more than fifteen individuals who have publicly accused Valdés, including well-known activists such as Raisel Isidrón, Avana De La Torre, and Yunier Marín, as well as independent journalists like Mary Karla Ares and researcher Ted Henken.
Most testimonials describe a pattern in which Valdés solicited money under false pretenses, including family emergencies, health issues, and support for activism-related projects. Other whistleblowers chose to remain anonymous, although they shared their stories privately.
Acosta also highlighted that several of the funds supposedly allocated for humanitarian causes or to assist other activists were diverted for personal purposes.
The testimonies include details about unpaid amounts, unfulfilled promises, and a history of emotional manipulation that, according to the victims, Valdés has maintained both in Cuba and abroad.
"This individual has taken advantage of his activism to defraud not only the regime's accomplices but also those who regarded him as a brother in cause," concluded the journalist, reaffirming her commitment to preventing more people from falling into the same practices.
Activist and journalist Adelth Bonne Gamboa shared on his Facebook profile that Valdés is facing a lawsuit in the United States for $180,000.00, filed by an 80-year-old man whom he was allegedly caring for.
According to Bonne Gamboa, this case involves "a bunch of serious irregularities," referring to significant issues in the relationship between Valdés and the elderly man.
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