A criminal investigation is in progress at the EmeraldBay condominium in Key Colony into a misappropriation of funds, police said. It is just the latest turmoil inside the vast luxury complex that is home to one-fourth of the island’s residents.
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The EmeraldBay condominium at the Key Colony complex, May 28, 2023. Police have opened an investigation into "misappropriation of funds" but are witholding details |
The report listed at least two victims, and at least one witness. All of the names were withheld as was a description of what was allegedly stolen. Chief Frank Sousa cited a portion of Florida’s public records law that enables law enforcement agencies to withhold specific information from public disclosure, but he did not explain why or state the specific reason for withholding the information –although the department is legally required to do so.
Board, police
silent on criminal probe
EmeraldBay President Louisa Conway initially denied
knowledge of the investigation, speculating it could just be
a resident making a routine theft report. Board Vice
President Antonio Camejo and Jorge Cavalier denied comment.
Board member Tony Gambirazio said he was told by the condo
board not to comment.
Residents said they
were reluctant to be quoted, saying they feared reprisals in
a condominium building that is rife with litigation. Those
contacted expressed confusion as to what the investigation
entailed, saying they have not been given an adequate
explanation.
“It’s unfortunate that things have gotten to this point,”
said one resident.
Eva Marie Kiene, a former EmeraldBay board member and
current resident, said she couldn’t go into details but did
say she heard that the money had been recovered.
Chief Sousa first
indicated an unredacted report could be provided as early as
last Friday. When contacted on Friday, he said officers were
conducting follow-ups and said “the report isn’t going to be
available for some time. We have spoken to individuals with
the case.”
EmeraldBay is a 285-unit, 12-story tower inside the
expansive Key Colony complex at 151 Ērandon, where upper
floors have views of Biscayne Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. A
3-bedroom unit recently sold for $2.8 million.
The redacted police report also mentions The Castle Group,
which is the management company hired by the EmeraldBay
board of directors.
But the document omits what role, if any, the company may be
playing in the probe, and Castle officials declined to
comment.
A Castle representative referred questions back to the condo
board. On its web site, Castle says “two out of Castle’s
three founders are CPAs. We can ensure that your financial
records are not only impeccable but tailored to your exact
requirements.” Management companies ultimately report to an
association’s board of directors and officers, who are
typically volunteers.
The criminal probe isn’t the only shakeup at EmeraldBay.
Property manager and Castle Group employee Maria Rodriguez
abruptly left her position. Conway said she left because of
health reasons.
“Maria was extremely ill,” she said. “It is a personal
issue. It is what it is. It is a bummer.”
When contacted on Friday to see if she had additional
information about the investigation, Conway said no comment
and tried to retract her previous statements.
Popular managers in
two buildings
Rodriguez is the second condominium manager to leave Key
Colony this year.
Her estranged spouse, Antonio Rodriguez, was dismissed in
January as the building manager for a sister Key Colony
building, Botanica, for performance issues, building
officials said.
Both Rodriguezes have been fixtures at the Key Colony
complex for decades, and forged ties with many unit owners
at the buildings, where a personal touch is often
appreciated.
Maria, a 20-year veteran, worked her way up from secretary
to manager. Antonio Rodriguez was a security chief and
assistant manager at Botanica before being promoted to
manager.
As of Friday, Maria Rodriguez remained listed on the
EmeraldBay website as manager. A KBI reporter visited home
addresses for Ms. Rodriguez for comment, but without
success.
Residents interviewed expressed gratitude towards Maria
Rodriguez and said she had been well-known and well-liked by
residents.
History of Legal
Issues
The new police investigation is just the latest to rock the
island’s largest seaside apartment complex.
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EmeraldBay is defending itself from an unrelated civil lawsuit brought by the Key Colony master association over allegations of unpaid assessments.
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A clever phishing scam was blamed for Botanica employees’ authorization of a $105,000 electronic funds transfer to a new bank account that purported to have been established by Key Colony’s master association.
Conway and Camejo, who
are current EmeraldBay officers, were sued in a defamation
case filed by a former employee when they were also serving
as directors of the Homeowners’ Association. The case was
settled for $36,000.
On the Botanica phishing investigation, building officials
said they’d been told that the funds were sent to a bank
account associated with an automotive shop in Houston.
Police and Botanica officials said most funds were
recovered, but no arrests have been made in the case, which
remains open.