MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A 48-year-old woman from Miami-Dade County was arrested Wednesday after authorities say she admitted to stealing and pawning jewelry belonging to a former employer over several years.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies said the investigation began July 22, 2022, after the victim reported that valuable jewelry had gone missing from her Palmetto Bay home.
The victim told investigators that Yuliedy Diaz, of South Miami Heights, had worked for her full time as a cleaning woman for 12 years, according to deputies.
Over the course of several years, the victim said she noticed jewelry and watches disappearing, including Cartier and Rolex watches, necklaces, gold bracelets and earrings, according to an arrest report. Deputies said the items were estimated to be worth about $36,437.
Investigators said they used LeadsOnline, a database that tracks pawn transactions nationwide, and determined Diaz had pawned 73 items between July 2018 and June 9, 2025.
They said the victim later identified 32 of those items as her property.
The report details multiple transactions at pawnshops, including the pawning of Cartier and Rolex watches, gold jewelry, rings, earrings and bracelets.
Deputies said on March 18, 2022, Diaz pawned an Oyster Rolex watch. They said she later repurchased that same watch on April 29, 2022.
Investigators said Diaz provided pawnshops with her driver’s license, home address, phone number and place of employment each time she pawned the jewelry.
On Aug. 10, the victim identified Diaz from a photograph, according to the report. She also recognized the jewelry shown in photographs of the pawned items as her own, deputies said.
The following day, investigators showed the victim records for all 73 items Diaz allegedly pawned. After reviewing them, the victim identified 32 items as belonging to her, the report states.
Deputies said Diaz was apprehended on Wednesday morning and taken to the MDSO’s Palmetto Bay Policing Unit for questioning.
According to the report, Diaz waived her Miranda rights and agreed to an interview with investigators.
Investigators said she admitted to previously working for the victim and “admitted to stealing and pawning all 73 of the victim’s jewelry after being shown several photographs and pawnshop records.”
The report states Diaz also wrote a statement apologizing to the victim.
When investigators asked whether she still had any of the victim’s jewelry, Diaz said she was “not sure,” according to the report.
Investigators said they obtained written consent to search Diaz’s bedroom at her home. They said the search turned up three Fossil watches, a Gevril watch and a necklace that Diaz said belonged to the victim.
Diaz turned the items over to investigators to be returned to the victim, the report states.
Jail records show Diaz is facing 10 counts of dealing in stolen property, along with one count each of grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000 and pawnbroker false verification/altered identification involving 300 or more items.
As of Thursday morning, she was being held on a $20,000 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
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