Article Courtesy of The Sun Sentinel

By Tonya Alanez

Published May 25, 2007

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Joseph D. Greenberg surrendered to Broward Circuit Judge Jeffrey Levenson Friday morning on a count of organized fraud and a count of structuring transactions to evade reporting in an alleged condo kickback case.

The judge set bond at $32,500 for Greenberg, 83, said defense attorney Scott Saul. Greenberg was taken into custoy until he posts bond.

The charges stem from an alleged kickback scheme at a Hallandale Beach condo that may have cost apartment owners up to $4 million in unnecessary assessments, police and condo officials said. The allged offenses took place between Jan. 1, 2003, and Dec. 30, 2005.

Saul said his client is a professional poker and blackjack player, and the allegations have nothing to do with gambling.

Of the gambling, Saul said, "These are junkets he goes on for entertainment."

"My client has taken a cooperative approach in dealing with the state," Saul said.

Greenberg's co-defendants are Angel B. Ramos, Ira Silver and Robert M. Hittner.

Surrendering Wednesday were Silver, 62, of Fort Lauderdale, a plumbing contractor; and Hittner, 58, of Cooper City, a veteran state-certified community association manager. Hittner worked for the Condominium Association of Parker Plaza Estates, a 520-unit high-rise in the 2000 block of South Ocean Drive. The two were charged with organized fraud and released on $25,000 bonds.

If convicted as charged, the organized fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years and a $10,000 fine.