Miami rapper Lazaro Lesteiro-Diaz, 26, known as Drakula and YungLazz, was arrested on Thursday on charges including bank fraud, money laundering, and animal cruelty. The arrest followed an investigation into an alleged bank spoofing scheme, which Lesteiro-Diaz reportedly bragged about in his music.
During a search of his Miami-Dade home, authorities discovered a room described as "full of Cuban Santeria/Voodoo witchcraft." Nearby, investigators found a live baby goat, named Valor, inside a cardboard box with orange paint markings on its neck, believed to be intended for slaughter. Two decapitated chickens were also found behind the residence. Investigators noted a video showing Lesteiro-Diaz holding two dead chickens, consistent with those found.
Lesteiro-Diaz faces five counts: possession of a controlled substance, money laundering, organized scheme to defraud, unlawful possession of identification, and animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill. Investigators launched the probe after reviewing videos allegedly showing Lesteiro-Diaz promoting bank fraud schemes through his rap lyrics. One lyric referenced was: "I called you from a Bank of America number…that means I’ma boof a plot," which detectives interpreted as bragging about accessing bank accounts and stealing money.
During a livestream, Lesteiro-Diaz allegedly displayed a handgun, cash, suspected promethazine, and personal information of victims on a laptop. He also reportedly showed a "purple drink," identified by police as promethazine codeine cough syrup, which is allegedly used as an illegal drug. Another video allegedly showed him flashing multiple debit, credit, and gift cards. Investigators found a wad of cash inside his kitchen sink.
The raid, conducted by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Miami Police Department, and the FBI, involved dozens of law enforcement officers.
Seized items include a Glock 21 handgun with an extended magazine, ammunition, multiple identification documents, suspected cannabis, a call center headset, cash, a "Drakula" diamond chain, a diamond-encrusted watch, and bottles containing suspected "purple drank."
The live goat was removed from the property and placed in the care of Miami Animal Rescue, subsequently being looked after by students at Felix Varela High School’s Veterinary Academy. The goat is expected to be transferred to a horse farm in Ocala.
Lesteiro-Diaz allegedly admitted during questioning that the seized items belonged to him and confessed to attempting "to commit fraud." He was taken into custody and made his first court appearance Friday. A judge set his bond at $30,000. He is currently held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
This is not Lesteiro-Diaz's first encounter with law enforcement. In 2020, he was arrested for allegedly posting threatening messages about killing specific groups of people. Court records show he received withheld adjudication for written threats to kill charges that year, with his probation terminated in 2022.