ISLAMORADA, Fla. – A woman described as the former longtime bookkeeper of Florida Keys restaurant owner and elected official Mike Forster, known as “Mangrove Mike,” is now accused of stealing from his estate.
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Forster, a former Monroe County Commissioner and Islamorada mayor, died of COVID-19 in 2021. He was 61. He owned Mangrove Mike’s at 82200 Overseas Highway.
Officials with the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that Susanne Bloy, Forster’s “trusted” bookkeeper since 1998, had been appointed to manage Mangrove Mike’s Enterprises while his estate underwent probate.
Investigators said Bloy, 71, of Key Largo, racked up $50,000 in charges “linked to Apple IDs and devices under (her) control” in 2022 and 2023.
They said she was making “repeated online purchases through a casino gaming app” called “Cash Frenzy™ - Slots Casino."
In 2024, Forster’s niece, Paige Keil, discovered suspicious recurring Apple.com charges that had no connection to the business operations and reported it, leading to an investigation into Bloy, prosecutors said.
“Evidence showed Bloy updated the Apple ID account, changed the billing information to her name, and later attempted to delete the account days before the business was transferred to the Keil family,” a news release states.
Bloy was arrested on Friday on a charge of scheme to defraud.
“Mike Forster dedicated his life to public service and generosity. During the darkest days of COVID, his restaurant kept people fed and connected,” Monroe County State Attorney said in part in a statement. “To discover that someone he trusted is accused of stealing from his legacy is absolutely unacceptable.”
Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield added, “When someone uses their access and authority to exploit the memory and estate of a community icon, we will hold them accountable.”
Bloy was released from jail after posting a $50,000 bond. Records show she’s scheduled to be arraigned on June 3.