MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — Damian Castilla is a felon with a 2023 conviction for organized fraud in Miami-Dade. He kept that secret when he went back to his old ways and pretended to be a commodities broker, according to detectives.
The Florida Department of Corrections released Castilla, 52, from prison on Nov. 18, 2025. He engaged in his shady business even while on probation until 2045, according to the detectives’ arrest report.
“The subject falsely represented himself as a commodities broker and accepted funds ... for investment purposes,” but “instead of investing the money, he diverted the funds for his personal use,” a detective wrote, according to the report.
It wasn’t the first time he kept his legal struggles secret to manipulate his victims, according to Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office detectives.
In 2020, a detective arrested Castilla on March 18, after accusing him of operating a fraudulent Ponzi-style scheme. He was released on bond on March 19.
“While awaiting trial, he continued to deceive another victim using similar false representations of non-existent investments,” a detective wrote, according to the arrest report.
Detectives arrested Castilla on Wednesday with his defense attorney present at the M-DSO Northwest District station in Miami Lakes.
Corrections booked him at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, facing charges of second-degree grand theft and organized fraud. His bond was $5,000.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Andrea Wolfson is set to preside over the case.
Local 10 News Assignment Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.
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