Miami Builder Accused of Orchestrating Massive $20 Million Construction Fraud
In a lawsuit that reads like a real-life crime thriller, billionaire Russell Weiner, founder of Rockstar Energy Drinks, is accusing a Miami-based web of companies and individuals of executing one of the most egregious construction frauds in recent Florida history.
Filed by Pine Tree Development LLC, the lawsuit exposes a $20 million scheme allegedly orchestrated by Andrea D’Alessio Jr., an unlicensed, self-proclaimed “luxury home builder,” and a network of entities including Inspirata Management Company, SCALAA GP, and SCALAA LP.
At the core of the allegations is D’Alessio — described in the complaint as a master manipulator who, despite repeatedly failing the Florida general contractor licensing exam, convinced Weiner to entrust him with tens of millions to build two high-end mansions in Miami Beach.
According to the suit, Inspirata signed a “fixed-fee” contract that was supposed to eliminate hidden costs and overages. But behind the scenes, the operation was anything but transparent. Inspirata is accused of flooding Weiner with phony invoices, padded payrolls, and shell fees — all cleverly engineered to siphon millions from the project.
In a particularly damning allegation, workers were billed at double their actual wages, and ghost teams of “architects” and “designers” — many lacking credentials — were reportedly racking up seven-day-a-week overtime. The result? Over $20 million in suspected fraud, with less than 25% of the work completed.
The complaint goes further, alleging that D’Alessio and his associates forged legal construction documents, including Notices of Commencement — a felony under Florida law. These documents are now under criminal investigation, suggesting the fraud may extend beyond civil court into the realm of felony prosecution.
Even more shocking, when confronted, D’Alessio allegedly pretended to repay the stolen funds, fabricating wire transfer confirmations totaling $11 million. The promised restitution never arrived. Instead, D’Alessio allegedly vanished behind a wall of legal maneuvering, continuing to conceal the funds and dodge accountability.
Other defendants include:
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Erik Peterson, the alleged bookkeeper accused of approving fraudulent entries.
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Anthony Iannuzzi, who allegedly skimmed fees through fake project management work.
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Eduardo Muhina, the so-called “architect of record,” accused of enabling the false billing scheme.
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A range of shell corporations, reportedly used to funnel and launder the stolen money.
What began as a luxury development turned into a legal and financial nightmare. Pine Tree Development claims it has paid over $49 million, only to be left with incomplete structures, unusable blueprints, and a trail of unpaid contractors now filing liens.
The suit brands the operation as a “calculated, premeditated theft ring” — one designed not to build homes but to bleed investors dry under the illusion of progress.
In a city where million-dollar builds and scandal often go hand in hand, this lawsuit tears down the polished façade of Miami’s luxury construction world to reveal a deeply flawed — and potentially criminal — underbelly.
If this can happen to someone as savvy and high-profile as Russell Weiner, it raises a chilling question: How many others are silently bleeding money behind the scenes of Miami’s booming real estate market?
The courts — and possibly criminal prosecutors — now face the monumental task of untangling this alleged fraud. But one thing is clear: the companies and individuals named in this suit weren’t building dream homes. They were building lies. And now, it’s all collapsing.
Andrea D’Alessio and his co-defendants are financial arsonists. Wherever they go, projects implode, fortunes evaporate, and lawsuits follow.
If you do business with Inspirata, SCALAA GP, or SCALAA LP, be warned: you’re not investing in construction — you’re investing in catastrophe.