Widening the scope of a criminal probe at the posh EmeraldBay condominium, the State Attorney’s Office confirmed this week it is now involved in a “misappropriation of funds” case that is now in its seventh week.
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The EmeraldBay condominium in Key Biscayne, May 28, 2023. The State Attorney's Office confirmed it is now involved into what police have described as a "misappropriation of funds" case. |
“This is still
in-house,” Williamson said. “But the chief has talked to
both the County and the state because we are concerned that
this is something that will go beyond our ability to
investigate,” acknowledging the department’s small size and
workload.
Rundle’s office has been increasing oversight of
condominiums and homeowner associations in the wake of the
Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside that happened
two years ago today.
Key Biscayne police remained tight-lipped about the
investigation, which officers described as a “grand theft”
in a heavily-redacted report, rebuffing multiple and
repeated requests for information by the Independent.
There have been no arrests or public indication of progress
since the investigation started May 12.
Concrete Citation
The law enforcement probe comes after Village officials
issued a civil violation notice to EmeraldBay last July
because the Association was behind schedule on its required
40-year recertification, due in 2020.
It is the only Key Biscayne condo under supervision by the
Village Board of Special Magistrates. Officials said the
Village is keeping the code compliance case active to ensure
the work is done.
Rene Velasco, the chief building official, said Friday the
work on EmeraldBay’s pool deck may take several more years
to complete. He said the Village is satisfied with the
reports the condo has submitted to date, but a key report is
due soon, as is a $10,000 fee because the scope of repair
work expanded.
The entry of the State Attorney into the EmeraldBay matter
comes alongside recent civil litigation over the building’s
$7 million concrete restoration project. National Concrete
filed suit alleging the building failed to finish paying for
work.
On Friday, EmeraldBay denied the contractor’s allegations
and said National Concrete “performed defective repair
work,” according to court papers.
Condo leadership
response
Following news of the police investigation into
misappropriation of funds, residents on June 6 voted out
Louisa Conway and Antonio Camejo, the president and
treasurer respectively of EmeraldBay condo board.
The new board could not initially form a quorum, but several
days later chose Bonnie Sekeres, a resident who only bought
her unit 10 months ago, as the new president.
In an interview Saturday, Sekeres said she is leaving the
investigation up to the authorities but “we will assist them
any way they want. This is their responsibility.” She also
would not discuss how many residents might have been
defrauded, if any.
“I don’t think this is a question of transparency,” she said
of her decision to not inform unit owners. “This is a
question of protecting any person who might have been
harmed.”
Conway, the former president, did not respond to a message
requesting comment. Neither did the association’s management
company, Castle Management, despite multiple requests.