Media Center
Renowned Miami Private Investigator David Bolton regularly provides expert commentary to major news outlets in the United States and around the world. His interviews as well as his current and past cases have been profiled on:
Bolton Investigations, Inc. is involved in the investigation of the only unsolved murder of a Florida police officer.
COVID May Have Killed Chance To Solve South Florida Cop’s Murder
May 2022
By Francisco Alvarado/The Daily Beast
It’s been 55 years since two fellow cops found Walter Stathers, a burly 43-year-old police officer in Coral Gables, Florida, face down in the grass next to his patrol car shortly after four in the morning and just six days before Christmas.
When the policemen turned Stathers over, they saw a bullet hole in the right side of his neck and an exit wound in his upper left forehead, according to a Dec. 19, 1967 incident report typed up by James Harley, one of the officers at the scene.
By Francisco Alvarado/The Daily Beast
It’s been 55 years since two fellow cops found Walter Stathers, a burly 43-year-old police officer in Coral Gables, Florida, face down in the grass next to his patrol car shortly after four in the morning and just six days before Christmas.
When the policemen turned Stathers over, they saw a bullet hole in the right side of his neck and an exit wound in his upper left forehead, according to a Dec. 19, 1967 incident report typed up by James Harley, one of the officers at the scene.
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Bolton Investigations, Inc. investigated a $1.3 million burglary in Miami. We were able to identify the suspects as members of a Chilean burglary ring operating on the east coast of the United States. Authorities arrested 25 members and recovered $1 million in jewelry.
Thieves in the Night: A Vast Burglary Ring From Chile Has Been Targeting Wealthy U.S. Households
Authorities are closing in on a sprawling network of South American bandits who arrive as “tourists,” then plunder the homes of the rich—eluding police on three continents.
February 24, 2022
By Marc Wortman
The trap was set.
On an icy evening—January 21, 2020—the four suspects were about to step right into it. “We had everything planned out,” says the lead detective on the case. That’s Jesus Bonilla, of the Nassau County Police. The detective recalls the tension he felt as he waited with other officers on a residential street in College Point, Queens. For months he had been pursuing a four-member crew that included its reputed leader, Bryan Herrera Maldonado. Though only 24, he was said to be among the most wanted burglars in the New York City area. Bonilla estimates that Maldonado’s gang broke into at least 100 private homes across the country. They allegedly stole cash, jewelry, electronics, watches, and designer clothes and handbags—loot Bonilla believes amounted to millions—from mansions in towns like Bronxville, Greenwich, Hewlett Harbor, Old Westbury, and Sands Point. But that was just a fraction of the haul Maldonado was alleged to have swiped on a “theft tour” across the U.S. and in various countries around the world.
On an icy evening—January 21, 2020—the four suspects were about to step right into it. “We had everything planned out,” says the lead detective on the case. That’s Jesus Bonilla, of the Nassau County Police. The detective recalls the tension he felt as he waited with other officers on a residential street in College Point, Queens. For months he had been pursuing a four-member crew that included its reputed leader, Bryan Herrera Maldonado. Though only 24, he was said to be among the most wanted burglars in the New York City area. Bonilla estimates that Maldonado’s gang broke into at least 100 private homes across the country. They allegedly stole cash, jewelry, electronics, watches, and designer clothes and handbags—loot Bonilla believes amounted to millions—from mansions in towns like Bronxville, Greenwich, Hewlett Harbor, Old Westbury, and Sands Point. But that was just a fraction of the haul Maldonado was alleged to have swiped on a “theft tour” across the U.S. and in various countries around the world.
Bolton Investigations, Inc. was featured on the front page of the Clarin newspaper for investigating a sophisticated organized crime ring in Argentina that related to stolen watches from around the world arriving in Miami via couriers.
Where do the stolen high-end watches go in Argentina? Which are the most wanted and their final destination.
March 12, 2021By Nahuel Gallotta
Which are the most wanted and their final destination. Is there a network of pilots and stewardesses dedicated to transporting them? The role of the reducers and how is the distribution of money between the gangs.
Bolton Investigations, Inc. solved a $2.8 million robbery and uncovered an international crime ring operating in Miami and the Caribbean.
El Jabao: The greatest Cuban crime syndicate
October 3, 2020
By Mario Ariza
It starts with a gun not going off.
The barrel is aimed at portly, bespectacled, 52-year-old George Villegas. Villegas is in an elevator in Coral Gables. It’s 7:43 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2012. Behind him are two rolling suitcases weighing 110 pounds and containing $2.8 million dollars worth of “popcorn” Bolivian gold that he plans to take to Republic Metals in Opa-Locka. The elevator doors open to reveal three men. One, Raonel Valdez, is holding a gun.
Bolton Investigations Affirms Chilean Burglary Ring Responsible for Rash of South Florida Burglaries Caught in New York State One Million dollars in property recovered Ringleader Narrowly Escapes Capture
MIAMI – January 27, 2020 – Miami Private Investigator David Bolton of Bolton Investigations announced that there is a link between a rash of home burglaries and safe thefts in South Florida and the recent police raid on a Chilean burglary ring in Nassau County, NY. He added a man identified as Bryan Leandro Herrera-Maldonado remains on the run. Maldonado is now likely in South Florida or Southern California.
American Greed: "Black Market, Dirty Gold"
David was recently featured on the CNBC television program "American Greed" in the episode titled "Black Market, Dirty Gold" (Season 13, Episode 5) and was quoted extensively throughout the program about the illegal gold mining trade, its ties to drug cartels and organized crime, and its alarming impact in the United States and South America.
Recession Fears are Driving Up Gold Prices, but Watch for these scams
By Scott CohnSeptember 6, 2019
Fears of a recession have driven the price of gold to levels not seen in more than five years. but that's bringing out the scam artists. They prey on people looking to sell their gold to cash in on the high prices and on people looking to buy gold for its traditional role as a storehouse of value in uncertain times.
Safes Containing $1.2M in Jewelry Stolen From Coconut Grove Home
August 5, 2019
Coconut Grove homeowners are offering a large reward after two safes containing more than $1.2 million in valuables were stolen from their home. The break-in and theft happened the night of July 27, and surveillance cameras captured the three suspected thieves behind the crime, private investigator David Bolton said. Bolton said the thieves cut through a chain-link fence and then scaled a seven-foot concrete wall to enter the property.
Gold Bars Missing as Miami Jewelry Store Owner Accused of False Report
April 15, 2019
A man is being accused of staging a robbery at his own Miami jewelry store, where he claimed $80,000 worth of gold bars were stolen and he was attacked.
Levon Papikyan, 46, faces a misdemeanor charge of filing a false report after he allegedly faked an armed robbery at Deroso Jewelry on February 21, Miami police said.
Levon Papikyan, 46, faces a misdemeanor charge of filing a false report after he allegedly faked an armed robbery at Deroso Jewelry on February 21, Miami police said.
The mysterious trip of the $30,000 watch stolen in Buenos Aires
Bolton Investigations Inc. recovers watch 18 days after it was stolen and had traveled 4500 miles
February 22, 2019
A multimillionaire businessman from Nevada, United States, linked to the whiskey industry, among other businesses, was on January 6 in Argentina for tourism with his wife. Like many foreigners, he had chosen the luxurious neighborhood of Recoleta to stay and tour the city. But just two days later, a couple of blocks from the Duhau-Park Hyatt Palace, where he was staying, something unexpected happened despite the security recommendations that the hotel offers to guests once they enter.
‘Blood gold’ in your jewelry is poisoning workers and the rainforest. Here’s how to stop it
Dirty gold, clean cash: A Miami Herald investigation
By Nicholas Nehamas, Jay Weaver, and Kyra GurneyJanuary 16, 2018
Illegal gold molded into our wedding rings, dangling around our necks and hidden in our smartphones is polluting the rainforest with toxic chemicals and exploiting workers in Latin America.
Gold miners have stripped roughly 415,000 acres of South American tropical forest, an area twice as big as New York City, according to researchers at the University of Puerto Rico — and the rate of deforestation is only getting worse.
Gold miners have stripped roughly 415,000 acres of South American tropical forest, an area twice as big as New York City, according to researchers at the University of Puerto Rico — and the rate of deforestation is only getting worse.
Gables gold heist lasts seconds. Feds finally catch up with the armed robbers
Miami Herald
By Jay WeaverNovember 24, 2017
As soon as the courier carrying $2.8 million worth of gold exited the elevator of his Coral Gables apartment building, a red-hooded robber pointed a gun at his face and pushed him against a wall.
Two other robbers dressed in sweatshirts grabbed the courier’s pair of rolling suitcases filled with 110 pounds of gold flakes that had been bound for a refinery in Opa-Locka.
As soon as the courier carrying $2.8 million worth of gold exited the elevator of his Coral Gables apartment building, a red-hooded robber pointed a gun at his face and pushed him against a wall.
Two other robbers dressed in sweatshirts grabbed the courier’s pair of rolling suitcases filled with 110 pounds of gold flakes that had been bound for a refinery in Opa-Locka.
How a New Kind of Fraud Puts South Florida Real Estate Owners, Lenders at Risk
Miami Daily Business Review
April 4, 2017
By Samantha Joseph
A con man is exploiting a loophole in public records access to target South Florida real estate lenders and landowners.
Based on little more than his charm, a fake driver's license and forged corporate documents altered on a government-run website for $50, he posed as a Boca Raton doctor and walked away with $550,000 from hard-money lenders in Fort Lauderdale.
Based on little more than his charm, a fake driver's license and forged corporate documents altered on a government-run website for $50, he posed as a Boca Raton doctor and walked away with $550,000 from hard-money lenders in Fort Lauderdale.
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The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, hired Coral Gables-based Bolton Investigations Inc. to investigate safety and security issues
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Naples News
August 16, 2016
Teamsters’ probe reveals possible issues with outsourcing Collier schools’ custodians
The bids haven’t come in yet and the contract hasn’t been awarded, but the group that represents 250 Collier County custodians wants the school district to rethink its decision to inquire about outsourcing jobs.
They say it isn’t safe.
The bids haven’t come in yet and the contract hasn’t been awarded, but the group that represents 250 Collier County custodians wants the school district to rethink its decision to inquire about outsourcing jobs.
They say it isn’t safe.
$600,000 IN GOLD STOLEN BY ARMED ROBBERS FROM FEDEX TRUCK IN WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO
Bolton Investigations working in Curacao to recover stolen gold
August 5, 2016
August 5, 2016
BOLTON INVESTIGATIONS CAPTURES GOLD THEFT SUSPECT IN LARGEST GOLD HEIST IN FLORIDA HISTORY
Raonel Valdez is a fugitive wanted for a $2.8 million gold heist in Coral Gables, Fla.
July 30, 2016 Story Highlights - Raonel Valdez is charged with stealing $2.8 million in gold at gunpoint from a courier in Florida. - He was arrested in Belize after a manhunt that spanned 4 countries, and is awaiting extradition to the U.S. - U.S. immigration officials have so far said they will not allow him to re-enter the county to face trial
July 30, 2016 Story Highlights - Raonel Valdez is charged with stealing $2.8 million in gold at gunpoint from a courier in Florida. - He was arrested in Belize after a manhunt that spanned 4 countries, and is awaiting extradition to the U.S. - U.S. immigration officials have so far said they will not allow him to re-enter the county to face trial
$625K in gold stolen at Miami International Airport
Box of gold disappears after American Airlines flight arrives from Ecuador
MIAMI – A box containing $625,000 in gold arrived at Miami International Airport early Tuesday but disappeared about an hour and a half later, Miami-Dade police say.
Bolton Investigations identifies thief / New Developments In $478K Safe Heist at the Miami Beach Home of Sony Music Artist Prince Malik
Posted on July 30, 2016
Prince Malik Files Civil Lawsuit Against Man in the Surveillance Video Identified by Witnesses; Investigators Also Question How Defendant With Long Criminal History Was Given TWIC Security Clearance
Prince Malik Files Civil Lawsuit Against Man in the Surveillance Video Identified by Witnesses; Investigators Also Question How Defendant With Long Criminal History Was Given TWIC Security Clearance
$400,000 in valuables stolen from Prince Malik’s Miami Beach home
Recording artist offers $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, return of property
By Amanda Batchelor – Senior Digital Editor
May 12, 2015
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Recording artist Prince Malik, whose real name is Shahzad Nawaz, is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for breaking into his Miami Beach home last weekend, and the return of his stolen possessions.
By Amanda Batchelor – Senior Digital Editor
May 12, 2015
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Recording artist Prince Malik, whose real name is Shahzad Nawaz, is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for breaking into his Miami Beach home last weekend, and the return of his stolen possessions.
The Unsolved Murder of Coral Gables Police Officer Walter Stathers
July 30, 2016
100,000.00 reward offered by the City of Coral Gables, Florida for information relating to the homicide of Officer Walter Stathers.
Community input could change the course of this investigation. I encourage anyone with information to contact police or Bolton Investigations, Inc. regardless of how insignificant the details may seem. Homicide detectives have been working this case for decades, and a number of lines of inquiry have been investigated, however the community’s assistance is invaluable in helping to solve this case.
100,000.00 reward offered by the City of Coral Gables, Florida for information relating to the homicide of Officer Walter Stathers.
Community input could change the course of this investigation. I encourage anyone with information to contact police or Bolton Investigations, Inc. regardless of how insignificant the details may seem. Homicide detectives have been working this case for decades, and a number of lines of inquiry have been investigated, however the community’s assistance is invaluable in helping to solve this case.
