Shared by Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities
A monthly roundup of corruption in common interest, association-governed communities
Oro Valley homeowners lose thousands of dollars in rental scheme (AZ)
Kevin Adger 12/27/2016 3:37 PM
ORO VALLEY, AZ (Tucson News Now) – She was a person that 30 condo owners trusted to rent out their condo as a vacation rental.
For a while things were good and the homeowners received their money, then something changed with Brenda Sue Cann.
Oro Valley Police say, Cann had an agreement with the homeowners to rent out their condo. Cann would take 25 percent and the owner would take 75 percent of the cost of the rental.
From November 2015 to May 2016, she stopped paying the homeowners. Investigators told Tucson News Now this has led to a number of calls and complaints about Cann.
The OVPD was able to track her down in Florida, where she was arrested. She appeared in court here in Tucson a few weeks ago. She now faces charges of fraud schemes and theft.
Copyright 2016 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
A former Arizona property manager and leasing agent has been arrested for collecting rent from tenants, but not paying the condo owners for 7 months. A not-so-carefree investment for vacation condo owners.
Leominster mother and son indicted by grand jury for larceny in connection with condo association theft (MA)
Charges had been dismissed in district court in Oct.
By Cliff Clark, cclark@sentinelandenterprise.com
UPDATED: 12/27/2016 03:28:26 PM EST
WORCESTER — A Leominster mother and son, who allegedly stole more than $183,000 from a condominium association between 2010 and 2016 were indicted by a grand jury on Dec. 21 on several larceny charges, according to a spokesman for District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
In October, larceny charges against Judith Remy, 78, of 131 Litchfield Pines Drive, and her son, Raymond Remy, 55, of 92 Middle St., were dismissed in Leominster District Court by Judge Mark Noonan after he denied a motion by the state for more time “over the objections of the district attorney’s office.”
The state had asked for a continuance because one of its witnesses was unable to appear in court because of a medical issue.
Early’s spokesman, Paul Jarvey said on Tuesday, that the two were indicted on six counts of larceny of over $250. In addition, Raymond Remy was also indicted for six counts of receiving stolen goods over $250, said Jarvey.
Read more:
Leominster condo association treasurer, son accused of thefts (MA)
By Gary V. Murray
Telegram & Gazette Staff
WORCESTER – A 78-year-old Leominster woman and her son pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of stealing more than $180,000 from a condominium association in Leominster.
Judith R. Remy and her 56-year-old son, Raymond R. Remy Jr., were each arraigned Friday morning in Worcester Superior Court on six counts of larceny of more than $250 in connection with what the prosecution alleges was the theft of $183,704 from the Pickwick Manor Condominium Association over a six-year period beginning in 2010. Ms. Remy took over as acting treasurer for the association after her husband, Raymond R. Remy Sr., suffered a stroke and was unable to continue serving as treasurer, according to Assistant District Attorney John A. O’Leary.
Raymond R. Remy Jr. also pleaded not guilty to six counts of receiving stolen property. Prosecutors list both suspects as living at 131 Litchfield Pines Drive, Leominster.
Read more:
http://www.telegram.com/news/20170106/leominster-condo-association-treasurer-son-accused-of-thefts
Two reports: A mother and son duo are accused of writing unauthorized checks to themselves over a period of several years. Juith Remy was the condominium manager during the time of the alleged thefts. Raymond Remy served time for larceny in 2007.
Ramona man pleads not guilty to wire fraud (CA)
By Neal Putnam (Jan. 3, 2017)
San Diego Union-Tribune
Ramona man who was charged with wire fraud in the alleged defrauding of a homeowner’s association has pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in San Diego.
Robert Walsh, 37, has posted $25,000 bond and remains free. A magistrate judge ordered him to appear in court on Jan. 27 to set a trial date.
Walsh is the owner of Cornerstone Management Professionals Inc., which is also charged with him in a grand jury indictment of devising a scheme to defraud a homeowner’s association of $247,413 over the removal of asbestos in a project in San Diego.
Read more:
Instead of a direct theft, this case alleges a fraudulent contract bidding process, and denial of the presence of asbestos that should have been removed to comply with local building safety codes.
PBSO: HOA worker illegally spent $94,000 on hotels, ring, purses, more (FL)
By Tony Doris – Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, January 04, 2017 | Posted: 2:06 p.m. Wednesday, January 04, 2017
SUBURBAN WEST PALM BEACH —
The bookkeeper for a suburban West Palm Beach homeowners association has been arrested for allegedly using nearly $95,000 of the association’s money for personal expenses from a $2,138 diamond ring to an $804 purse.
Kristine K. Moore, 36, of West Palm Beach, was charged Dec. 29 with larceny and fraud in the disappearance of $94,674 from the master homeowners association of Cypress Lakes, a 1,000-home, 55-plus community off Haverhill Road, just north of Century Village. She was released on $20,000 bond the next day.
Read more:
This former HOA bookkeeper was apparently living the high life for almost three years. When the HOA manager caught onto the discrepancies in 2014, Moore walked out and evaded law enforcement until they recently arrested her in Palm Beach.
Twin Falls man accused of stealing $20K from homeowners association (ID)
By KMVT News Staff | Posted: Thu 6:44 PM, Jan 12, 2017
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — A Twin Falls man is being accused of stealing more than $20,000 from a mobile homeowners association in the form of overcompensation.
Eddy D. Packham, 55, posted bond on Monday and had a walk-in arraignment Thursday on a felony theft charge for unauthorized use of funds allegedly used for overpayment, paying personal bills and credit card debts.
According to court documents, in August 2013 Packham was elected as president of a homeowners association and was paid $200 per month to fulfill the duties.
Read more:
In this case, the HOA agreed to pay the President $200 per month. In almost all cases, by state law, HOA board members may not be compensated. Nevertheless, Packham allegedly helped himself to more than $20,000 over a period of two years, about 4 times more than he was supposed to be compesated.
Mother and son stole nearly $123,000 from Lakeland homeowners’ association (FL)
Posted Jan 18, 2017 at 8:29 PM
Updated Jan 18, 2017 at 8:32 PM
The Ledeger
By Suzie Schottelkotte
BARTOW – Martha Beard, 60, and her son, Matthew Beard, 33, each face up to 30 years in prison on charges they stole an estimated $122,780 from their community’s homeowners’ association over an 11-year span.
Martha Beard pleaded guilty to grand theft of more than $100,000 and scheme to defraud, and her son pleaded no contest to the same two charges. By pleading no contest, Beard is not admitting guilt, but is not contesting the charges.
Read more:
Martha Beard is a former Treasurer for the HOA, and has resided in the community for more than two decades. No doubt that, as a long time resident, her neighbors trusted her with their money, because it took 11 years to discover that money was missing.
Ex-Easton man admits defrauding homeowners in foreclosure (CT)
The Associated Press, Jan. 25, 2017
HARTFORD, CONN.
A former Easton man has admitting he and his associates bilked homeowners facing foreclosure out of thousands of dollars by falsely promising to buy their homes and pay off their mortgages.
Timothy Burke pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to mail fraud and tax evasion. The 65-year-old Burke faces up to 25 years in prison at his sentencing in April.
Read more here:
There’s more than one way to steal, and, in this case, Burke admits he and an attorney (who pleads not guilty) conned homeowners with a phony foreclosure rescue scheme. Mail fraud and tax evasion carry much stiffer penalties than simple theft and embezzlement.
Well where there is a few there are even more who have not gotten caught as of yet, that clock is ticking, unless our State Lawmakers get real. It is the homeowner who is footing the bill. Time is also running out on our State Lawmakers as well either place HOA Reform or abolish HOA from being built in the first place.
According to the reports,usually a board member or manager gets suspicious when vendors or. Utility companies start looking for money owed. Then they contact the bank and check statements. At that point, local police are contacted. But it can take years until the activity is discovered.
How did these various criminal prosecutions come to the attention of the local prosecutors? What can owners do to report suspected, or known, criminal behavior involving their Associations to the appropriate authorities?