MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Deputies said they arrested the former board president at a condominium building in northeast Miami-Dade’s Ives Estates area Wednesday after they said he stole residents’ “hard-earned” money.
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Authorities said Roberto Montalvo Jr., the 64-year-old president of Building J at the Ro-Mont South condominium complex at 20311 NE Second Ave., stole more than $15,000 “for his own personal gain.”
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Montalvo diverted $3,500 of association funds to a plumber to do work in his sister’s unit.
Deputies said he also asked the plumber to cash $12,400 in association checks and give the money to him.
The thefts happened in August 2022, deputies said. Authorities said Montalvo gave a statement to detectives.
“Mr. Montalvo used the power entrusted to him by the members of the association to embezzle their hard-earned funds and divert them for his own use and benefit,” an investigator concluded.
According to MDSO, the woman who became president after Montalvo noticed something was off with the association’s funds and called authorities.
“You have the right as a homeowner to ask questions and request bank records. Once you request those bank records, take a look at them,” MDSO Sgt. Carlos Luffi said. “If you see that something is not right with them, or something that there’s money missing or money going where it shouldn’t be going, then please reach out to us, please. ”
As of Wednesday, Montalvo ― facing a grand theft charge ― was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $2,500 bond.