They are our superiors of the owners of condominiums relying too much? Are they willing to ignore the warning signs - only to try to live in peace? Are they closing their business sense just to “fit”? Or are they simply too gullible and impressed by someone who is well spoken and well?

A woman member of the board of a condo was totally shocked when she had to realize that a fellow board member had embezzled funds: “He was a good guy, do not forget even my birthday!”

A judge who recently sentenced a member of the board to 20 years in prison said that the only way it is (quote): “These people saw as its knight in shining armor, and that made it easier for you to make your plan .”
That is exactly and that’s what makes it so easy for scam artists to our associations concerned. The latest chapter in the long history of embezzlement comes from the Charlotte Square Condominiums in Port Charlotte. Please read: “$ 1 million condominium account suspicion of theft.”

A manager of Star Hospitality Management, Inc. has allegedly embezzled about $ 1 million in funds from the association. Sherry Danko, chairman of the management company, recognized at a special meeting that the money is lost.

But nobody knows how much, since the company’s management has refused even board of directors of access to their own records.

Insurance bond to cover each of the buildings in the complex up to $ 50,000, far short of the amount that appears to be missing. I suppose that the management company should be responsible, no matter what? Did not charged to mind the store?

But often these high condominium owners make it easy for the bad. Even Senior Citizens must understand that the associations are serious business - with a lot of money at stake. Not all Potluck dinners and bridge tournaments!

Suspicious of certain activities, a member of the Board requested an audit, but was ignored. It requested the audits again in 2006, 2007 and 2008. “But the Board said it was too expensive and that voted down!” I know hindsight is 20/20 - but an audit would have been much less expensive!

In a nearby condominium association, with most residents of advanced age, a newly elected member of the board is only because she reminds asked too many questions and let the neighbors know that the former president and now Vice President of the board Richard Sikorsky, is in fact working for Star Hospitality Management, Inc., the association of the management company She asked politely if that can not be considered a conflict of interest? The response of the authorities: Recall by ambush! It was recalled board member for being too Nosy neighbors and convinced that his mind was wondering get costly for the Association. Since the withdrawal is not very kosher, the only one to benefit from this partnership is to recall attorney Ernest W. Sturges, son, who seems to have a difficult time explaining the reason that this arbitrator must be certified to remember!

When the same owner to ask why the money from the reserve funds in the amount of $ 100,000 was transferred to a “Fund for the Improvement of the Capitol,” without the required percentage of owners of the vote for approval - the minutes of meeting spilled the beans - received nasty and threatening e-mails. It is clear that very few of his neighbors, mostly elderly, it seems that it’s OK to violate the association and the rules of the Florida Statutes “Just a little!”
The big question remains: “What is a little bit?” It seems that some elderly owners of condominium just starting to pay attention when it is too late and the damage is already done. It’s one thing trying to enjoy retirement, but when the checks must be in writing, because too many people wearing blinders and even get to the crazy people who tried to see their life savings, the fun has to stop.

Otherwise the owners of these may be in a situation of a community activist in the Charlotte Square Condominiums described (quote): “I never imagined it would be in such a helpless situation. I’ve been an advocate for senior here in 25 years Charlotte County, the solution of other problems of the people and is probably not so busy realizing we were sitting in one ourselves! “

Port Charlotte - A bouquet of carnations and a birthday card greeted Dolly Dessart on Friday morning. But Dessart, 83 and legally blind, can only worry about the bills and uncertainty that she and about 400 homeowners in Charlotte Square Condominiums face.

The association’s condominium and maintenance of savings accounts were allegedly used recently by an administrator of the property. Some residents estimate of total losses close to $ 1 million.

“This is tremendously affecting the quality of life for some senior citizens and is the uncertainty,” Dessart said. “We do not know the outcome or how deep and widespread is this thing.”

The situation in Charlotte Square is each condominium owner’s nightmare: A board of trust in the hands of financial responsibility to an administrator of property, and not to follow up on the books until it is too late.

While the majority of the directors of condominiums are trustworthy, theft is a risk. To protect their property and assets, the condominium associations must be vigilant and take steps to protect your finances.

“I would not say that it is a common occurrence, but it happens often enough for the associations concerned and alert,” said Dan Lobeck, a Sarasota attorney who represents 600 condo owners and associations in Southwest Florida.

In its 30 years of practicing law, which has seen around 10 partnerships become victims of embezzlement.

In one case, in a building where many of the absentee owners were investors, managers took money budgeted for painting jobs that never occurred. In another, a company stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from an association of bank transfers by telephone.

Warning signs are evident abandonment of the assets and bills unpaid, but sometimes small changes in the way the director conducts business may indicate a problem.

The maintenance of adequate insurance to cover losses and theft of putting good measures in place that require financial reporting are two of the largest condominium associations for the protection necessary, Lobeck said.

On board is actively involved also offers some protection, but Lobeck said he had seen corruption in assets as well as partnerships.

In Charlotte Square, where the average age of residents fall between 75 and 80, the Board was uninvolved, said Lance Day, who served as chairman of the House of Cambridge until medical problems caused to resign.

Day said that began to suspect management problems shortly after Hurricane Charley in 2004, when the numbers of certain insurance claims are not aligned.

He called for an audit, but was ignored. It requested the audits again in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

“But the Board said it was too expensive and voted on it,” said Day.

The Executive Council, which acts as an umbrella for nine other associations, is supposed to have representatives from each of the nine buildings. However, the meetings were poorly attended.

He said that officers condominium confused to the point of paralysis for the loss.

“This is going to cause a lot of these seniors extreme stress,” said Day.

The partnership at Chelsea House filed a complaint with Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office last week alleging that the condo association manager Stacey Tuck had embezzled 143,000 dollars. Tuck, also known as Stacey Herrin, declined to comment when contacted this week.

Now the residents are likely to face additional fees to compensate for the losses, to pay court costs and to keep the buildings maintained.

Dessart, a community activist, said that he never imagined that it would be in such a helpless situation.

“I’ve been an advocate for senior for 25 years here in Charlotte County, the solution of other problems of the people, and probably so busy not realizing we were sitting in one of us,” Dessart said.