The final suspect in a scheme that bilked $20 million from the Simon Property Group remained at large Wednesday, a day after state investigators arrested the rest of her family and four others on racketeering records show.
Rachael Lauria, 39, spoke by phone Tuesday with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after the roundup but had not been arrested by late Wednesday afternoon, said FDLE Agent Daniel J. Warren.
Her mother, Lynette Lauria, 62, is accused of overseeing the nearly decade-long thefts while serving as the commercial real estate company’s vice president of marketing for Florida and Puerto Rico, records show. All of the money sent to 18 fake companies was deposited into 60 bank accounts belonging to Lauria’s family and friends, Warren said.
The accounts belonged to Lauria, 62; her husband, Robert Lauria, 63; and their daughters Rachael Lauria, 39, and Sarah Lagi, 34, all of Clermont; Timothy Herman, 49, Susan Ortega, 55, and Ryan Deming, 39, all of Orlando; and Dale Takio, 38, of Clermont, according to FDLE.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the seven defendants arrested in the case remain held in Lake County, Orange County and Las Vegas, records show.
Simon Property Group operates 228 malls in North America, Europe and Asia. Its U.S. properties generate more than $60 billion in yearly sales, according to Simon’s website.
hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5257
