Miami-Dade County couple arrested in alleged Colorado gold-mining investment scheme

Investigators say couple took $60,000 from investor, used money for personal expenses

Odalys Cordero-Romero and Richard Steiner are accused of bilking an investor in a purported Colorado gold-mining operation out of $60,000.

MIAMI – A Miami-Dade County couple is accused of bilking $60,000 out of at least one Florida investor in an alleged gold-mining investment scheme based in Colorado.

The Florida Office of Financial Regulation on Thursday announced the arrests of Odalys Cordero-Romero and Richard Steiner.

Recommended Videos



Investigators said Cordero-Romero and Steiner solicited investments from at least one Florida resident in July 2010 to fund a purported gold-mining operation in Delta County, Colorado.

Authorities allege that Cordero-Romero and Steiner convinced the victim to invest in the project, promising a return of $1 million in profit by September 2010. The investor wired $60,000 to a bank account controlled by Steiner, but rather than use the money for the development of a gold-mining operation or the leasing of mining equipment, the couple spent the money on personal expenses, investigators said.

"The fraudsters allegedly falsified information about their involvement in a lucrative gold-mining operation, which caused at least one Floridian to lose his hard-earned savings," Florida Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner Drew J. Breakspear said in a statement. "The Florida Office of Financial Regulation will continue to fight fraud and seek justice for those impacted by these crimes."

Follow Local 10 News on Twitter @WPLGLocal10