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Article Courtesy of
WSVN Channel 7 Miami
By
Nicole Linsalata
Published August 17, 2022
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WATCH VIDEO |
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OAKLAND PARK - Homeowners associations are known for collecting cash, but a
president at one community is accused of cashing in on a condo crime.
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Harry Murphy didn’t
show his face while appearing in court Thursday morning.
The 76-year-old is accused of stealing more than $44,000
from the Oakland Forest Homeowner Association, where he is
president.
“It was astounding. It was horrifying,” said resident Jo
Ellen Gould.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said Murphy had been writing
personal checks to himself from homeowners association
funds, including thousands of dollars that were used to pay
for this personal car.
Residents of the association told 7News they had become
suspicious about two years ago. When they had received
notice, the association’s reserve fund was short of money of
about more than half a million dollars. |
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“I got involved by going around to neighbors saying, ‘Hey, let’s wave it for
now, till we find out what happened to all this missing money,'” said
resident Rodolfo Price.
“That is something we did get in the mail,” said resident Joseph Lamson,
“that supposedly our coffers had run out of money, so if that’s the case,
then yeah, that wouldn’t be surprising.”
“We’re in bad shape, and that is going to result in extremely high
assessment,” said Gould.
Detectives said residents also became suspicious when records showed that
Murphy wrote checks ranging $600 to $20 for “supplies” with no receipts. The
information had been turned over the authorities.“I mean, they don’t arrest
someone on hearsay,” said Gould. “They arrest someone because of the facts,
the documents.”
“One of the checks to Home Depot was like $800. It said, for supplies,” said
Price. “Now, you and I both know that you cannot go to Home Depot and spend
even $800 on any supplies because there’s taxes involved. Money is my thing,
and ultimately he messed with my money, and as a result I said, ‘You know
what?’ I asked him a couple of times what’s going on with the money, and he
said, ‘The attorneys are taking care of it.’ As a CPA, that doesn’t make any
sense today.”
Murphy has been charged with grand theft.
His bond was set at $2,500.
As of 5:30 p.m., Murphy has bonded out of jail.
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