Article
and Video Courtesy of Local 10 News
By Bob Norman
Published
September 1, 2015
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HOLLYWOOD -- condo manager who allegedly embezzled
nearly a quarter of a million dollars from a Hollywood Beach homeowners
association was in Broward County circuit court for the first time
Friday after police said she fled across the state.
Kristin Glansen, 35, pleaded not guilty to the
allegation that she stole $228,000 in an embezzlement scheme from The
Waterway condominium on Hollywood Beach, where she was entrusted as
manager. After her plea, she had no comment as she shielded her face
from a Local 10 News camera on her way out of the courtroom.
With a grand theft warrant out for
her arrest, Glansen moved across the state to
Clearwater, where she rented a home in that city's
historic district. After just a couple days in her home,
her landlord, who asked that she not be named, became
suspicious. The landlord said she did a Google search of
Glansen and saw a Local 10 story reporting that Glansen
was wanted by police, so she promptly called
authorities, who quickly made the arrest.
"I'm glad they caught her," Jorge
Quiros said. "I just couldn't believe that she was able
to take the money so easily and disappear like that." |
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Glansen allegedly created a fake company called Willis Homes, which has
a very similar name to the condo's actual insurance company, Willis of
Florida, and wrote multiple checks to the fake company while letting the
condo association's actual insurance lapse, according to court records.
"The scheme was even more troubling
when one considers what could have happened in the event of
a flood, fire or other disaster," wrote Hollywood police
Detective Larry Van Dusseldorp in his probable cause
affidavit, adding that there was "overwhelming factual
evidence of her guilt."
Attorney Eric Glazer, who is representing the Waterway, said
Glansen was given too much freedom in her position running
the association. |
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"This community gave the manager the power to sign
checks -- not a good idea," said Glazer, who filed a civil lawsuit
against Glansen seeking the return of the money. "She cut the checks
basically to Willis or Willis Homes and put it in her very own bank
account, making it appear as if insurance bills were getting paid."
Glansen got another surprise Friday morning when she was served with
Glazer's civil lawsuit, filed by the association, demanding the return
of the money she allegedly stole from The Waterway. Quiros said he
wanted more than just the condo association's money back.
"I think she should serve her time in jail for stealing all the money
that she did, just like anybody else would," he said.
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