NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A North Miami Beach pool attendant is accused of fraudulently receiving nearly $24,000 in duplicate payroll payments from the city, according to police.
Joel James Taveras was arrested Wednesday after an investigation by the North Miami Beach Police Department, they said.
According to the report, police were called on March 31 by the city manager and chief financial officer regarding an alleged theft and fraud scheme involving Taveras, who had worked as a pool attendant for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for the past four years.
Investigators said city officials were alerted by staff members and Bank of America that Taveras, 20, had been receiving duplicate payroll payments each week from February 2025 through February 2026.
They said the payments, which were processed through Bank of America and several Amscot locations in Miami-Dade County, totaled approximately $24,000.
Police served subpoenas to Amscot and Bank of America and obtained banking records and checks related to the transactions, the report states.
Police said Taveras was located within North Miami Beach city limits on Wednesday and taken to NMBPD headquarters for questioning.
After being read of his Miranda rights, he was arrested and later transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Jail records show Taveras is facing one count of organized scheme to defraud and third-degree grand theft.
As of Thursday afternoon, he was being held on a $5,000 bond at TGK.
It was not immediately clear why Taveras was receiving duplicate payroll payments from the city or whether investigators believe he played a role in causing the payments to be issued.
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