Describing herself as a venture capitalist, foreign exchange trader and social media influencer, 26-year-old University of Miami graduate Jenny Ambuila was arrested on Friday together with her parents in Colombia on embezzlement and corruption charges.
Jenny’s father, Omar Ambuila, who was a customs official at the Colombian port of Buenaventura was accused of using some monies he received as bribes for allowing untaxed goods to enter the country to fund his daughter’s college education and lifestyle, according to WCAU.
Jenny was known for flaunting her lavish and extravagant lifestyle in Miami on social media which included frequent purchasing of expensive designer clothes and accessories, vacations across Europe as well as the purchase of a $300,000 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder and a Porsche Cayenne, albeit her father was on a meagre $3,000 monthly salary, WCAU further reports. Her profligate spending and displays ultimately gave authorities enough reason to investigate her family.
Another customs official was arrested in an effort to clamp down on the illegal importation of goods into the country.
“This is a fundamental case in our fight against smuggling,” Andres Jimenez, a Colombian prosecutor, told a local radio station, according to WCAU. “We are going after all of this corrupt structure, and the resources behind them.”
Jimenez further added that though they have evidence Omar received not less than $600,000 in bribes from 2012, he is likely to have embezzled millions.
Jenny is currently under house arrest in Colombia on money laundering charges with her parents behind bars on charges of corruption and abetting smugglers.
Though Jenny claimed she earned her fortunes and afforded her lavish living through her ice cream business and forex trading service, authorities were not buying it.
“She did set up some companies on paper,” Jimenez told Colombia’s Blu Radio, according to WCAU. “But they did not make enough earnings to afford her that type of lifestyle.”
As at Tuesday, Jenny had deleted several photos of herself flaunting wealth and living the life on social media and also made her public Instagram account private. She has also deleted her lifestyle website, the New York Post reports.
