On Monday, July 21, 2025, the Florida Bar filed a complaint against attorney Nelson Carmenates in the Supreme Court of Florida, alleging multiple violations of professional conduct rules. Carmenates faces disciplinary action following investigations into his trust account practices and business dealings with clients.
The case is entitled “The Florida Bar v. Nelson Carmenates,” with case nos. 2023-70,319(11G) and 2025-70,036(11G).
The complaint outlines two counts. The first, stemming from a 2023 investigation, involves Carmenates’ handling of trust funds for a non-legal business transaction. In May 2021, Pedro Pages wired $210,000 to Carmenates’ trust account for a deal involving client Ajay Sharma, with funds referenced to another client, Barbara Pardo. Carmenates, who did not represent either party legally in that business transaction, recorded the funds but failed to verify the deal’s terms. Between May and November 2021, he disbursed the funds per Pardo’s instructions, depleting the account. When Pages’ attorney demanded an accounting, Carmenates refused, citing attorney-client privilege.
A Florida Bar audit later revealed irregularities, including a $7,500 interest-free loan Carmenates took from Pardo’s trust funds without advising her to seek independent counsel. The audit also noted unauthorized debits from Carmenates’ trust accounts, which he covered but did not report to the bar.
The second count, based on a 2025 investigation, concerns Carmenates’ role in a jet fuel investment involving his dormant company, Alief Holdings, LLC. In 2019, Sharma and Geoenergy Solutions FZC, a United Arab Emirates company, agreed to invest $85,000 through Alief for jet fuel transactions. Carmenates allowed Geoenergy and Sharma to use his trust account and Alief, signing a memorandum of understanding as Alief’s CEO. The agreement falsely presented Alief as a regular vendor with Russian refineries. Geoenergy deposited $85,000 in December 2019 and $35,000 in January 2020, but the investment failed, yielding no profit. Carmenates facilitated disbursements for questionable invoices and permitted Sharma and Pardo to misrepresent themselves as Alief officers. A bar audit uncovered further discrepancies in his trust account record-keeping over multiple years.
The Florida Bar alleges violations, including conflicts of interest, misrepresentation, and improper trust account management. The complaint, approved by the Eleventh Judicial Grievance Committee, seeks disciplinary action from the Supreme Court.
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Carmenates is a car accident attorney in Doral, Florida. He attended the Florida International University College of Law. He acquired his law license in Florida in 2006.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
