A Miami rapper is facing animal cruelty charges after investigators say they discovered what appeared to be a sacrificial ritual inside his home, including a live goat allegedly branded for sacrifice.
Lázaro Lesteiro-Diaz, 26, known professionally as Drakula and YungLazz, was arrested Thursday following an investigation into alleged bank fraud he reportedly referenced in his music. The case took a disturbing turn when authorities executed a search warrant at his Florida residence, where they discovered a room investigators described as “filled with Cuban Santería and Voodoo practices,” leading to additional animal cruelty charges.
Just steps from that room, officers discovered a live goat named Valor, confined in a cardboard box. The animal had orange paint around its neck, which, according to investigators, indicated the spot where it was intended to be injured before being killed. Two decapitated chickens were also found behind the property. This gruesome discovery comes as the singer D4vd is in pretrial hearings after being charged with heinous crimes.
“Subsequently, FBI agents discovered a video of Lesteiro-Diaz holding two dead chickens hanging by their feet, which matches the dead chickens found,” the arrest report stated.
The raid was carried out jointly by the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office, the Miami Police Department’s Special Investigations Section, and the FBI’s Violent Gang Task Force. According to local reports, dozens of officers were seen arriving at the property located on Southwest 43rd Avenue.
Investigators revealed they confiscated numerous items during the search, including a Glock 21 pistol with an extended magazine, ammunition, several identification documents, suspected marijuana, cash, and a headset from a call center.
Authorities also recovered jewelry, including a diamond chain in the shape of “Dracula” and a diamond-encrusted watch, as well as baby bottles containing what police described as a substance suspected of being “purple drank,” a drinkable cough syrup-based drug.
The investigation against Lesteiro-Diaz began after authorities reviewed videos that allegedly showed him promoting bank fraud schemes while flaunting cash, firearms, and personal information linked to alleged victims. In one of the lyrics cited by investigators, he rapped: “I called you from a Bank of America number… that means I’m gonna pull a fast one.”
Detectives clarified the meaning in their report, stating, “That means I’m going to take your money. I’m going to access your bank account, and you’re giving me your code.”
Authorities stated that other videos recorded in June and July showed him describing bank scams involving identity theft and account takeovers through his music and social media content.
During questioning, Lesteiro-Diaz allegedly admitted that the items found at the residence belonged to him, claiming he had purchased the cough syrup “to cure his illness.”
Police also stated that he confessed to a previous attempted fraud before invoking his right to remain silent. He now faces five charges, including possession of controlled substances, money laundering, organized fraud, illegal possession of identification, and animal cruelty with intent to cause harm or death.
The goat was rescued from the property and placed in the care of Miami Animal Rescue. Students from the Felix Varela High School Veterinary Academy are caring for the animal.
“When she arrived, she was very scared. We put her in the barn with hay and water, and she ate a little,” a student said. Authorities confirmed the animal will continue its recovery before being transferred to a farm in Ocala.
Lesteiro-Diaz appeared in court on Friday, where a judge told him, “You are charged with five counts.”
The judge determined there was probable cause and set bail at $30,000. He remains detained at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
Court documents reveal this is not his first run-in with authorities. In 2020, he was arrested after being accused of posting online threats to harm others.
His sentence was later suspended, and his probation period ended in 2022.
