Nicolás Payarola, former lawyer of Gonzalo Montiel, was arrested for fraud and a multimillion-dollar scam.

Attorney Nicolás Payarola, known for having represented media personality Wanda Nara and world champion Gonzalo Montiel, was arrested this Thursday at his home in the Golf neighborhood of Nordelta, in Tigre, as part of a case investigating a series of multimillion-dollar frauds.

The arrest warrant and procedures were ordered by prosecutor Cosme Iribarren, from the Benavidez UFI, who is leading the investigation. The arrest was carried out early in the morning by officers from the Tigre Departmental Police Station, under the Superintendency of Security AMBA Norte I, headed by Chief Commissioner Lucas Borge.

Sources linked to the operation confirmed that Payarola is accused of 11 counts of fraud, including charges of fraud in ideal concurrence with embezzlement by unlawful retention, abuse of blank signature, and repeated fraudulent administration.

Among the most significant complaints is the one filed by Juan Marcelo "Tito" Montiel, father of the player from River, who accuses the attorney of having stolen 700 thousand dollars. According to his statement, the defender had entrusted that amount to his father to move forward with a real estate project, but the venture was never carried out. The case indicates that Payarola allegedly took advantage of the trust relationship with the family to manage part of the funds.

The court file also details that there were withdrawals of money from the player's accounts, forged certifications, and unsupported bank transactions, all linked to maneuvers that the judiciary considers fraudulent.

Meanwhile, alongside the arrest in Nordelta, Judge Rodríguez Mentasty ordered a search of a residence in Beccar, in San Isidro, where a cousin of Payarola lives. The objective was to seize documents that could link him to new victims or other operations under investigation.

The case remains in the hands of prosecutor Iribarren, one of the deputy chief prosecutors of San Isidro, and new judicial measures are expected in the coming days.

Montiel's reaction after Payarola's arrest

After the arrest was confirmed, the player's partner, Jacqueline Soledad, shared on her social media a strong message in which she celebrated the progress of the case.

Later, Gonzalo Montiel himself reposted the story, making clear the emotional weight the situation has for those around him: "The happiness and mixed feelings are inexplicable. The day has come when JUSTICE was served, for us as a family and for all the victims of this criminal. As well as his mafia clan, Sofía Ferrarazzo, Marina Lema, and Mario Chamorro, among others. Your impunity is over, Nicolás Payarola. Fraudster, criminal".