$14.5M Verdict in Abuse and Fraud Case Against De Matos
Table of Contents
Facts in the Backdrop of the Incident
Mireya Cambero sued Jose De Matos and others in a case involving abuse and fraudulent transfers. She sought over $30,000 in damages from each defendant. The complaint described a long history of abuse by Jose De Matos, dating back to 1998. He once threatened her with a pistol. Physical and verbal assaults followed for years. His daughter, Maria De Matos, often witnessed the abuse. His mother, Yajaira Rebolledo, once told him to strike Ms. Cambero. He isolated her and controlled her interactions. He threatened her whenever she tried to visit family. They had two children, but he used their son to manipulate her.
Events Leading to the Legal Dispute
In 2002, while pregnant, Ms. Cambero arrived home late. Jose De Matos punched her in the stomach. She gave birth prematurely and suffered intense psychological pain. Later, he sexually abused her and forced her into degrading acts. He hit her if she resisted and forced her to consume alcohol. In 2009, they relocated to Miami. The abuse continued and worsened. Jose De Matos became obsessed with humiliating her. In 2011, tensions escalated into a violent assault.
Plaintiff’s Injuries and Their Impact
On March 11, 2011, he accused her of infidelity after a night out. He slapped her and dragged her home. He beat, bit, spat on, and threatened to kill her. He strangled her until she blacked out and raped her. Their son discovered her in a bloody state and helped her escape. Police called the scene “very disturbing.” She spent 24 hours hospitalized. The trauma left long-term scars.
Claimed Damages
Ms. Cambero experienced severe emotional distress. She continues to suffer from flashbacks and nightmares. She required extensive psychological counseling. Her self-esteem broke down. Maria De Matos also caused her emotional harm. Later, Ms. Cambero discovered that Jose De Matos moved assets to avoid liability. These transfers compounded her distress and prompted legal action.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff(s): Mireya Cristina Cambero Cordero
Counsel for Plaintiff: Gustavo J. Garcia-Montes | Elizabeth Cantu | Carlos F. Gonzalez | Louis V. Martinez | Paola M. Sanchez Torres | Crystal L. Revilla | Michael Diaz Jr. | Maia Dombey | Gary E. Davidson | Ishmael A. Green | Evan Stroman
Defendant(s): Jose Fernando De Matos Rebolledo | Maria Fernanda De Matos Ceiba | Amaury A. Vasquez | Alejandro Akle | Comercializadora Internacional Solgan Trading S.A.S. Corp | 12755 SW, LLC | Comercializadora Internacional Solgan Trading S.A.S. (Colombian Co) | Hotel La Puerta Inn C.A. | Proyecto La Puerta C.A. | Mundo Carne, Inc | Comercializadora Mundo Carne Santander | Colonnade 101 S.E. Inc | Colonnade 115 S.W. Inc | Colonnade 116 S.E. Inc | Colonnade 119 S.W. Inc | Colonnade 318 S.W. Inc | Bellafer, LLC | Jare’s Corporation
Counsel for Defendants: Manuel Arthur Mesa | Sheila M. Gonzales-Jonasz | Marc C. Pugliese | Gustavo J. Garcia-Montes
Claims Against the Defendants
Ms. Cambero filed several claims. Against Jose De Matos, she brought counts of battery, assault, false imprisonment, and invasion of privacy. She also alleged intentional infliction of emotional distress. She brought a separate claim of emotional distress against Maria De Matos. Ms. Cambero further accused multiple parties of fraudulent transfers. These included Colonnade Companies, Mundo Carne, Proyecto, Hotel La Puerta, and the Property. She also asserted a claim of civil conspiracy to conceal assets.
Defense
The corporate defendants—Bellafer LLC, Jare’s Corporation, Proyecto La Puerta C.A., Mundo Carne Inc., and the various Colonnade entities—largely denied the allegations in the Complaint. They responded with boilerplate denials, claimed insufficient knowledge, and demanded strict proof where applicable. They also moved to strike large portions of the General Allegations as immaterial, impertinent, or scandalous under Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.140(b) and (f), arguing that much of the plaintiff’s narrative was irrelevant and prejudicial.
They raised multiple affirmative defenses. They challenged the court’s subject matter jurisdiction, argued that the complaint failed to state a cause of action, and claimed comparative fault and lack of causation. They contended that the plaintiff’s injuries stemmed from pre-existing conditions and asserted that a mutual general release executed in Venezuela barred the claims. They invoked collateral estoppel, res judicata, and the statute of limitations, arguing that the fraudulent transfer claims (Counts VI–XIII) were time-barred based on the plaintiff’s prior knowledge and earlier actions. Finally, they asserted that many of the named corporate defendants had never been owned by Fernando de Matos and that he had transferred them to his daughter, Maria de Matos, in 2009.
Jury Verdict
On 15 July, 2025, a Florida jury awarded Mireya Cristina Cambero Cordero $14.5 million in damages against Jose Fernando De Matos Rebolledo and others. De Matos was found liable for battery, emotional distress, and false imprisonment ($1.5M compensatory, $1.5M punitive). He also fraudulently transferred assets to avoid liability, causing $6.5M in damages, including a $3.5M transfer of the Red Road Property to Solgan Florida. Additionally, a $5M award was issued for a conspiracy involving De Matos and co-defendants, including Bellafer LLC, to conceal assets and evade accountability.