A former employee of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, located in Miami-Dade County, was arrested and charged with stealing food from the kitchens and storage areas of the establishment valued at $7,854.
Among the allegedly stolen items are 192 lobster tails, valued at approximately $6,525, according to local news based on reports from the authorities.
The detained, Diego Alfredo Medina-Acosta, 37 years old, a Uruguayan citizen and resident of West Miami, is facing a charge of first-degree grand theft.
He was arrested on Monday by the Coral Gables Police Department and transferred to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK), where he still remains.
How was the theft discovered?
The investigation began in mid-September, when the hotel security director and the executive chef alerted the police about the disappearance of products from the kitchen and storage areas.
The chef explained that the kitchen keeps an inventory record in Excel that is updated every Sunday.
Upon reviewing the data, he found that “important amounts of food were missing”, according to the arrest report cited by Local 10 News.
Both officials pointed to Medina-Acosta as the main suspect.
What the cameras captured
The surveillance images proved decisive for the case.
The recordings showed Medina-Acosta arriving before his shift and accessing the areas where the missing food was stored.
According to the report, he was also seen entering and exiting the establishment through different doors instead of using the designated entrance for staff.
In one of the most compromising sequences, the cameras caught him taking a cart filled with a large quantity of lobster from a warehouse.
When he returned it, some of the seafood that was visible at the bottom was no longer there.
The defendant's explanations
When the researchers interviewed him, Medina-Acosta provided several explanations.
Regarding his habit of clocking in before the scheduled time, he said he did so "because he wanted to get a head start on work."
However, the hotel staff clarified that employees could not clock in or start working before their shift.
Regarding the lobster cart, he stated that he had taken it out "to let it thaw," but "he could not provide a direct explanation" as to why part of the seafood was missing when returning it.
The list of what was stolen
The arrest report details the items allegedly stolen:
- 192 lobster tails valued at $6,525.
- 116.7 pounds of pork belly for $637.18.
- 30 portions of snapper fillet for $273.
- 11 units of cleaned squid for $137.40.
- Raw shrimp for $89.30, Argentine chorizo for $54.28, potato gnocchi for $39.88, and coconut milk for $98.32
The total amount comes to $7,854.36.
The audience and the hotel's reaction
Medina-Acosta submitted his resignation before management could fire him.
After her departure, according to the executive chef, the kitchen began closing each inventory period with a significantly larger amount of food than during the months of shortages.
Tom Prescott, president and CEO of the Biltmore Hotel, was emphatic: “We have zero tolerance for theft or any conduct that undermines the trust placed in our colleagues and our organization. We are pleased that an independent investigation has confirmed the findings of our internal inquiry on this matter.”
This Tuesday, the accused appeared before Judge Mindy Glazer of the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, who determined probable cause, set bail at $2,500, and appointed the Public Defender's Office to represent him.
Upon reading the police report, the magistrate did not hide her surprise: "Apparently, he has a preference for lobster tails."
Glazer also ordered Medina-Acosta to stay away from the Biltmore.
Additionally, he was subject to immigration detention, meaning he could remain in custody even if he pays the bail.
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