HOLY SUNDAY.– In a joint effort between the Public Ministry, the Department of Investigation of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Dilaft) of the National Police and the OCN Office of Interpol Santo Domingo, the Venezuelan woman was arrested in Colombia Keylis Samahi Belfon Arismendione of the ringleaders of the real estate fraud and money laundering network dismantled in the Operation Cheetah.
Assets acquired with money from victims
Belfon Arismendi, next to the extraditable Loany Lismeiry Ortiz Novaalso the ringleader, acquired high-value assets in the Dominican Republic with the victims’ money, which they previously deposited in the main account of Novasco Real Estate SRL as payment for real estate projects.
The bank account was managed by Ortiz Nova, who withdrew the funds during the last year of the scam and transferred them to Belfon Arismendi’s account, intended for the purchase of movable and immovable property resulting from the illicit activity.
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Escape planning
The Venezuelan also planned Loany Ortiz’s escape from the country to Colombia and, at the time of the arrests, she was looking to hide in Venezuela before trying to flee through Cucutaon the border between Colombia and Venezuela.
The criminal structure promoted real estate projects, attracting buyers from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the United States, Canada and Europe through RE/MAXan international company recognized in the sector.
Research and location
The Public Ministry indicated that, after receiving information sent to the Specialized Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prosecutor’s Office, Belfon Arismendi’s criminal behavior was detected, which allowed the investigation and his location to begin.
The accused traveled to Bogota, Colombiastopping in Panama, and did not return to the Dominican Republic to evade the criminal proceedings against him. After immediate contacts with the OCN-Interpol Santo Domingo and the support of Interpol Bogotá, was located and arrested in the city of Medellin.
Extradition and judicial process
The prosecutor Claudio Corderoof the Anti-Money Laundering Prosecutor’s Office, indicated that in the next few hours the file will be provided to Colombia to begin the extradition process of Belfon Arismendi, who will face charges for real estate fraud and money laundering that affected hundreds of victims in the country.
Currently, they are in preventive detention in the Dominican Republic Yves Alexandre Giroux, Marisol Nova Nolasco, Rocío Rodríguez de Moya, Astrid Ridelys Bello, Samayra del Rosario, Javier Ulloa Bueno and Loana Paola Guerrerowhile Loany Lismeiry Ortiz Nova He has been in the extradition process in Colombia since February 14, 2025.
International cooperation
The heads of the Anti-Money Laundering Prosecutor’s Office and the La Romana Prosecutor’s Office, Ramona Nova and Reina Rodriguezthanked Interpol Colombia for its international cooperation and highlighted the strengthening of coordination with the Colombian Police in locating fugitives linked to cases of organized crime in the Dominican Republic.
