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Convicted Miami scammer now accused of fake rape claim, attempted murder

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Convicted Miami scammer now accused of fake rape claim, attempted murder


HIALEAH, Fla. – A woman convicted of multiple felonies for scamming thousands of dollars from prospective Miami apartment renters is now in even more serious trouble — this time in Hialeah.

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Local 10 News first reported on Valerie Meza-Faublack in 2022, when she donned the alter ego “Hamanda” and lied to multiple would-be renters about the availability of a Little Havana apartment so she could steal thousands in security deposits.

Now, the 23-year-old is accused of lying about being raped and firing more than a dozen gunshots at the man she claimed did it — all while on probation for the scamming spree.

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Meza-Faublack, of Hollywood, is now facing charges including armed robbery and attempted murder following her arrest on Wednesday.

According to the Hialeah Police Department, officers responded to a warehouse parking lot at 490 W. 18th St. just after 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 6 for what they thought was a sexual battery and shooting investigation.

An arrest report states that Meza-Faublack claimed she met a man, originally viewed as the suspect, outside of her workplace: the Rainbow Restaurant off West Eighth Avenue.

Police said she claimed he drove her to the parking lot, where he took out a gun, forced her to pull her pants down, raped her, then “dragged her out of the driver side door by her hair” and fired shots at her while she was escaping. They said they learned the next day, however, that Meza-Faublack refused to let staff at the Roxcy Bolton Rape Treatment Center perform a rape kit on her.

Authorities said the man told them that he met Meza-Faublack, whom he didn’t know, at a bar. The report states she asked him if he wanted to leave the bar with her and he agreed.

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The two went to the parking lot and undressed to have sex, he told police.

“As the victim attempted to climb into the rear passenger seat of the motor vehicle, (Meza-Faublack) unlawfully took possession of his firearm, which was in the driver compartment area, and began shooting into the vehicle where he was occupying the rear passenger seat,” the report states. “After the shooting stopped, (the) victim advised he exited the vehicle, physically retrieved the firearm from (her) and fled the scene.”

Authorities said they interviewed Meza-Faublack again on Wednesday. She claimed, police said, that she had paid the victim $20 to charge her phone in his vehicle. She said he then drove her to the parking lot, where he raped her — but not at gunpoint — then tried to rape her again. The report states she told detectives that she then convinced the man to “let her go urinate outside.”

Much of the rest of her statement was redacted, but detectives later noted that Meza-Faublack said “once she saw the victim retrieved his firearm, she ran to the front passenger side door and attempted to open it” to get her cellphone.

Detectives said they were “able to disprove” Meza-Faublack’s accounts of the incident and corroborate the victim’s account, after viewing surveillance video clips.

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Police described in the report what the clips showed:

“In the videos, the defendant (Meza-Faublack) is seen exiting from the front passenger seat on her own, as she is removing her own blue jacket and opens the right-rear passenger door. The defendant then throws her jacket into the front passenger seat and left both passenger doors open. The defendant voluntarily walks around the rear of the vehicle and goes to the driver side door, where she met with the victim.

The defendant is then seen standing in between the open driver side door and the doorway for several minutes with her pants still properly on. After a brief time, the victim and the defendant enters the vehicle via the left side and all four doors are seen being closed from the occupants inside the vehicle. The defendant and the victim remained inside the vehicle for several minutes.

Shortly thereafter, the defendant exits the vehicle through the driver side door and immediately began shooting into the occupied vehicle. After the shooting, the victim is seen exiting from the left-rear passenger door and a physical struggle for the firearm from the defendants grasp ensued.

After the victim retrieved his empty firearm from the defendant, the defendant ran back to the front passenger door and attempted to open the door as the victim re-entered his vehicle. The victim ultimately fled the scene without the defendant. Investigation revealed the defendant fired 15 shots at the victim as he was inside his vehicle.”

Hialeah Police Department arrest report, spaced into separate paragraphs for readability

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Apparently, none of the 15 shots hit the man.

Authorities arrested Meza-Faublack on the aforementioned armed robbery and attempted murder charges, as well as counts of felon in possession of a firearm, shooting or throwing a deadly missile and filing a false police report. She’s pictured in her Miami-Dade mugshot bearing a lower neck tattoo reading “Love.”

Jail records show she’s being held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as of Thursday.

The Venezuelan national also has an immigration hold.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

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Miami, FL

1 dead, 9 injured in 3-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade

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1 dead, 9 injured in 3-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade


WPLG WPLG

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — A three-vehicle crash in southwest Miami-Dade triggered a large emergency response Saturday night, leaving 10 people injured, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

MDFR units responded around 8:03 p.m. to the area of Southwest 28th Street and Southwest 107th Avenue after receiving reports of a massive crash.

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Officials said 13 units arrived on scene and found a total of 10 adult patients.

Three people were taken to a local hospital with injuries. One of the passengers, a woman, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

No additional details have been released.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

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Pablo Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez

Pablo Hernandez is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born in Cuba and has lived in Miami, Florida since 2002.



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Miami, FL

Mock Draft Roundup: Miami Defensive End Is Popular Pick For Lions

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Mock Draft Roundup: Miami Defensive End Is Popular Pick For Lions


It’s time for the 13th Detroit Lions OnSI mock draft roundup for the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Over the last week, the Lions have increasingly prioritized finding an EDGE to complement Aidan Hutchinson at No. 17 overall.

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Let’s take a look now at who the draft pundits have Lions general manager Brad Holmes selecting in the first round.

Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

Mauigoa is presently being projected by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Alec Elijah)

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EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

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Mesidor is presently being mocked by the following: 

A to Z Sports (Mike Payton; Lions trade down to No. 26 overall); NFL.com (Bucky Brooks); Pro Football Focus (Jordan Plocher); CBS Sports (Garrett Podell)

As Plocher pens, “The Lions are finally able to add a consistent pass-rush threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Only one time since Hutchinson has been in Detroit has another Lions defender topped 50 hurries in a season, and that was Al-Quadin Muhammad in 2025 (53), but he left in free agency.

Mesidor was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football in 2025, amassing 13 sacks, four quarterback hits and 50 hurries on 445 pass-rush snaps. He finished the 2025 season with a 94.2 PFF pass-rushing grade against true pass sets, the second-best mark in the draft class.”

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EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

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Bain is presently being selected by the following: 

FOX Sports (Joel Klatt)

As Klatt pens, “I think the Lions could really use another pass rusher, even if they already have Aidan Hutchinson. Putting Bain with Hutchinson would give Detroit two members on the All-Motor Team. They would wear offensive tackles out. How would opposing teams shift their protections? One of them would get a one-on-one matchup that they would win.”

Offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, Utah 

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Lomu is presently being selected by the following: 

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Pro Football Network (Jacob Infante); Pro Football Network (T.J. Randall)

As Infante explains, “Few expected the level of regression the Detroit Lions experienced in 2025. After the release of long-time starting left tackle Taylor Decker, they find themselves with a big hole along an offensive line that already took a step back after key departures the previous offseason.

Caleb Lomu is a smooth, polished left tackle who didn’t allow a single sack in 382 pass-blocking reps during the 2025 regular season. His hand timing, balance, and range in pass protection make him a top offensive tackle prospect and a worthy first-round selection in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft.”

Offensive tackle Monroe Freeling, Georgia 

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Freeling is currently being mocked by the following: 

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Detroit Lions On SI (Christian Booher); FOX Sports (Ben Arthur); Sports Illustrated (Daniel Flick)

As Flick writes, “The Lions released starting left tackle Taylor Decker and now need a replacement in the draft. Freeling, who’s risen from unheralded to likely first-round pick, is an athletic mover with plenty of bend and agility. He needs to keep getting stronger, but Freeling could be a tremendous blindside blocker at the next level.”

Offensive tackle Blake Miller, Clemson

Miller is presently being mocked by the following: 

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The Detroit News (Nolan Bianchi); NFL.com (Mike Band); The Draft Network (Jaime Eisner)

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As Eisner opines, “The Taylor Decker era is over in Detroit and a new left tackle is needed. Enter Blake Miller, a name that is rising up draft boards as we inch closer to April. Miller has a phenomenal college resume with good size and a ton of power. He’s played mostly right tackle, but he should have no issues moving over to the left side if needed or sticking at right tackle with Penei Sewell moving over. Miller and Sewell can form a formidable bookend tandem in Detroit.”

Offensive tackle Spencer Fano, Utah

Fano is presently being selected by the following: 

CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)

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Offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

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Proctor is presently being selected by the following: 

ESPN (Field Yates); NFL.com (Charles Davis); USA Today (Google Gemini); CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); WalterFootball (Charlie Campbell)

As Yates opines, “Left tackle is a sizable need for Detroit with the departure of Taylor Decker after 10 seasons. Proctor is a sizable answer to the problem — literally — at 6-7, 352 pounds. He has power when he gets his hands on defenders in the running game as well.

Proctor’s tape had up-and-down moments during his final college season, as sometimes his foot quickness was overmatched by edge rushers. But the upside is immense for the 20-year-old left tackle, who started all 40 games he appeared in at Alabama.”

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EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn 

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Faulk is currently being mocked by the following: 

USA Today/Touchdown Wire (Alyssa Barbieri)



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Miami, FL

As Ultra Music Festival kicks off, Miami residents living nearby are expressing concerns about traffic, noise

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As Ultra Music Festival kicks off, Miami residents living nearby are expressing concerns about traffic, noise


As tens of thousands of electronic music fans descend on downtown Miami for the Ultra Music Festival this weekend, some residents living near Bayfront Park say the celebration comes at a cost they bear year after year.

Visitors from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the three-day festival. While organizers and city leaders tout the economic and cultural impact of the event, nearby residents say road closures, limited park access, and high noise levels disrupt daily life in an area that has grown increasingly residential.

“It’s kind of stressful, and it’s definitely an imposition,” said Laura Okamura, who lives along Biscayne Boulevard near the festival grounds. “The people who suffer the most are the people who live at 50 Biscayne.”

Newer residential towers now surround Bayfront Park, a shift neighbors say city leaders and festival organizers must account for as Ultra negotiates its next contract with Miami.

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A Miami commissioner visited residents to hear their concerns

District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo visited Okamura’s building Friday night to hear concerns from residents firsthand. He said a public meeting scheduled for April 2 will allow surrounding neighbors to voice their grievances as the city considers the festival’s future.

“It seems doable,” Pardo said. “People really like this event. People in this building, people on the street, enjoy the event, but they also want to be heard. And they want to be sure their basic needs are met.”

Noise remains one of the biggest issues for nearby residents. Colby Leider, a sound engineer, said early-evening readings near the festival hovered between 80 and 85 decibels. Historically, neighbors say volumes increase as the night goes on.

“Eighty-five is a very important number in human hearing,” Leider said. “It’s the level above which exposure begins to potentially cause hearing loss.”

Residents say they want stricter noise controls and traffic mitigation plans written into Ultra’s new agreement with the city. They stress they are not pushing to cancel the festival, but want accommodations that reflect how downtown Miami has changed since Ultra began in the city.

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“It’s about understanding how a neighborhood has grown and how an event that has existed for 26 years can harmonize over time,” Pardo said.

Okamura echoed that sentiment, saying neighbors are asking festival organizers to act responsibly. “We are not asking Ultra not to have the concert,” she said. “We are asking them to be a good neighbor. This is our home. This is where we live.”

Representatives from Ultra Music Festival and the Bayfront Park Management Trust are expected to attend the April 2 meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss potential changes to the festival’s contract with the city. The meeting will take place at Live Arts Lab Theater, building 1, room 1101. Ultra Music Festival runs through the weekend at Bayfront Park, with road closures and traffic expected throughout downtown Miami.



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