|
Article
Courtesy of The Sun Sentinel By
Erika Pesantes
Published
August 18, 2014
A former homeowners association president is accused of embezzling more than $180,000 from her Tamarac community, authorities said.
Michelle Changar-Coe, who was arrested Friday, forged dozens of checks totaling $181,441.85 that she deposited into her bank account, according to a police report.
The fraud occurred while she served as president of the Mainlands Section 7 homeowners association from January 2009 through December 2013, authorities said. (Residents knew her as Michelle Coe when she served as president, records show.)
Changar-Coe, 44, forged the signatures of four persons without their consent between May 2011 and October 2013, investigators said.
While conducting an audit of financial records, a board member found several checks from community funds that appeared to be forged with his signature and reported it to authorities.
He later found a check for $20,475 that he never recalled signing and had been made payable to a "Michel Chandar," a name that authorities found to be bogus, the report said.
Changar-Coe also is accused of producing a fraudulent agreement for the association to pay a "city liaison" $2,575 per month for representation at City Hall. |
|
Michelle
Changar-Coe
(Broward Sheriff's Office/August 13, 2014)
|
"No such position existed with the city of Tamarac, according to two city officials who provided sworn statements," the report said.
Changar-Coe invoiced the association for the fake job from May 2011 to November 2013 using the name of "Michelle Charger," it said.
Investigators found checks deposited into Changar-Coe's bank account bearing the supposed city liaison's name, they said. According to the report, that account's funds were used for personal expenses.
Changar-Coe was charged with first-degree grand theft of more than $100,000 and four counts of fraud. Changar-Coe, who has since been freed from jail on bond, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
ARREST
REPORT
|
