Cadillac, Corvette among 5 cars involved in Miami woman's $520K ‘credit bust out': Cops

A Miami woman has been arrested in an alleged “credit bust out” scheme involving the fraudulent purchase of five vehicles including a Cadillac and a Corvette worth over $520,000, authorities said.

Graciela Pinales, 26, was arrested Tuesday on charges of organized fraud $50,000 or more, grand theft, obtaining a vehicle by trick, and obtaining property or credit by false statement, Miami-Dade jail records showed.

According to an arrest report, the investigation began on Nov. 19, as the Florida Department of Corrections and Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office were conducting a compliance check at a home on Northwest 68th Terrace.

While they were there, investigators encountered a man who was on probation for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon who said in Creole “We are good as long as they do not go in that car,” referring to a Nissan Maxima in the driveway, the report said.

A probation officer translated the comment and sheriff’s office auto theft detectives responded to check the vehicles at the home and found a 2023 Cadillac with the VIN removed, the report said.

Investigators discovered the Cadillac, worth $106,405, had been purchased on July 15 by Pinales at a dealership in Miami Lakes, the report said.

In her credit application, Pinales said she had a monthly income of $16,867, which equates to a yearly salary of $202,404, the report said.

Detectives discovered Pinales had purchased four other vehicles in a short amount of time, which is activity consistent with a “credit bust out,” which happen when a person purchases numerous vehicles during an abbreviated period of time before they appear on their credit reports, or a person manipulates their credit history to conceal negative activity, the report said.

The bust out suspect often illegally subleases the vehicles on the black market or have the lien washed and titled in other states, authorities said.

Investigators found Pinales also bought a 2024 Dodge Ram 3500 worth $78,253 on July 18, a 2025 Jeep Wagoneer worth $79,195 on July 18, a 2025 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 worth $159,089 on Oct. 21, and a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk worth $97,223 on Nov. 19, the report said.

The total value of the vehicles was just over $520,167, the report said.

Detectives contacted Pinales’ employer, who said she’d been fired in December 2024, the report said.

Pinales told detectives she was a part owner of a jewelry company and had made a mistake on the credit application, but she was arrested and booked into jail, the report said.