MIAMI — The former president of the Hammocks Community Association took a plea deal Thursday in a massive fraud case dating back years. Her husband also took a deal.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said she “believe(s) that this is the longest prison sentence ever for an HOA board president in the United States” as part of one of the largest known HOA frauds in U.S. history.
Marglli Gallego could have spent a lot longer behind bars: She was facing up to 195 years in prison. Instead, after taking responsibility, she received a seven-year prison sentence and seven years of probation. Her husband, Jose Gonzalez, agreed to seven years probation and handing over a $1.2 million property.
The two were part of eight arrested in connection with the HOA theft case.
Prosecutors laid out allegations of grand theft, racketeering and money laundering.
Authorities said the co-conspirators took millions from residents of the southwest Miami-Dade community.
Gallego, 44, was accused of using HOA money for personal expenses. Prosecutors said Gonzalez, 49, received more than $1 million in funds for over-billed work or work never performed
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office shared video showing hundreds of documents hidden in a spa business.
“A spa, really?” Fernandez Rundle said. “Those are the records. Some of the records.”
Gallego has already spent three-and-a-half years behind bars, so she “has a few more years to go,” her attorney said.
Meanwhile, four other cases remained pending as of Thursday afternoon.
The Hammocks ordeal led to a new law protecting homeowners.
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