Detective Mauda faces federal fraud and identity-theft charges.

Conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft captions are accusations, and a detective’s badge does not convert a complaint into a conviction. Shmueal Mauda, also reported as Sam Mauda, 36, a Miami Shores police detective placed on unpaid leave after an August arrest, appeared Monday in federal court in Fort Lauderdale with Elisha Mauda, 39, of Pembroke Pines, and Brent Small, 58, of Hollywood, Florida. A U.S. Secret Service complaint alleges a scheme of more than $1.6 million targeting elderly and deceased victims.

Local 10, reporting Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, described court documents showing all three appeared Monday, and a federal complaint from a U.S. Secret Service special agent. The allegation is a scheme of more than $1.6 million aimed at elderly and deceased victims nationwide, including seniors in their 90s: opening or taking over credit cards, changing addresses to a North Miami Beach home tied to Sky Realty FL LLC, where Small is described as manager and registered agent, and spending on personal expenses and on companies controlled by the Maudas. One allegation is that Shmueal used a dead victim’s card for a trip to Seoul, South Korea. Another is that a 97-year-old Iowan’s card was used for a $9,513 property-tax payment on that home. An 85-year-old in Washington is alleged to have lost $800,000 at Chase, with that money used to pay down other cards. Those are complaint allegations. They are not findings, and a loss figure in a complaint is not a restitution order.

The matter reached federal court after August warrants out of Skagit County, Washington, in a Sedro-Woolley senior case. Davie police searched on Aug. 13. Small and Shmueal were taken into custody. Elisha was stopped on a Fort Lauderdale airport jet bridge after a one-way ticket to Bogotá was booked. Unpaid leave, a search, and a jet-bridge stop are employment status and custody. They are not guilt. The federal counts now are conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Elisha’s attorneys, Chris Cavallo and Jayne Weintraub, said their client maintains his innocence and looks forward to clearing his name in court. That is the defense statement for Elisha. It is not an acquittal. Pre-trial detention hearings are set for next Tuesday. Arraignments are set for Oct. 5. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.