MIAMI, FL – A woman is facing legal consequences after allegedly placing a GPS tracking device on a vehicle to follow her friend’s husband’s mistress, according to Miami-Dade County authorities. Lourdes Garcia Mesquida, who recently appeared before a judge, has been charged under a newly enacted law that enhances penalties for unauthorized use of tracking devices.
The incident reportedly began on September 14 when Garcia Mesquida, driving a brown BMW, was captured on surveillance footage placing a device under an SUV in Southwest Miami-Dade. The police report states that this was not an isolated incident; she allegedly repeated the act four days later. A coworker initially alerted authorities after witnessing the first occurrence, and a bystander confronted Garcia Mesquida during the second attempt.
Despite living in the United States for a decade without any prior criminal record, Garcia Mesquida now finds herself embroiled in a legal battle. She allegedly acted on behalf of a friend who suspected infidelity, telling the bystander she was instructed to search for the car due to her friend’s marital troubles.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities examining whether Garcia Mesquida acted independently or under someone else’s direction. Meanwhile, the victim involved in the case has chosen to remain anonymous, stating that her relationship with the man in question ended months ago.
This case comes in the wake of a recently approved law that increases penalties for the clandestine use of tracking devices or applications. Under this legislation, offenders could face up to five years in prison, reflecting the seriousness with which Florida lawmakers view such invasions of privacy.