Article Courtesy of Local 10 News ABC
By Bob Norman
Published August 18, 2018
HALLANDALE BEACH - The state is investigating one of its own now-former
regulators after accusations that he abused his power at a condominium he
was assigned to investigate, the Department of Business and Professional
Regulation confirms.
Eduardo Iglesias duped residents into hiring not only his
own association management company, but also his wife as the
condo's attorney after he'd been called by the state to
investigate a complaint at El Dorado Plaza West in
Hallandale Beach, numerous unit owners and an active lawsuit
allege.
"I confronted him one day and I told him you don't really
belong here," said 88-year-old Jim Silverman, adding, "All
he wanted to do was get our money."
Iglesias was first assigned last year to investigate alleged
wrongdoing at El Dorado Plaza West in May 2017, according to
DBPR records, but a lawsuit filed by unit owner Robert
Petrasek alleges he instead "hijacked" the community
association, beginning with an alleged recommendation to the
condo board that it hire Anatalia Sanchez as its attorney,
which it did. What residents and the lawsuit allege they
didn't know at the time was that Sanchez was the wife of
Iglesias.
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Sanchez, who did not respond to a message for comment for
this story, then cut a deal condo to to provide legal services for the condo
beginning on Sept. 30, 2017. The deal called for her law firm to be paid
$2,800 a month, not only for legal services, but also for "outsourced"
management services. A request that the investigation be terminated was
received by the state on Oct. 5, according to state records, but Iglesias’
involvement with the condo was apparently just beginning.
On Oct. 18, the condo board approved the new management
company, Real Asset Management, owned by one Edy Quin.
Residents said they didn't know that Quin, licensed
community manager, and Iglesias, state condo regulator, were
one and the same person: Eduardo Quin Iglesias.
From the lawsuit, which names both Iglesias and Sanchez as
defendants, filed by Miami attorney Robert Cooke:
"What was discovered shocked plaintiff and all others
similarly situated who assisted in the investigation. The
DBPR investigator Eduardo Quin Iglesias was in fact Edy Quin,
the new property manager hired by defendant Sanchez.
Furthermore, unknown, and undisclosed to plaintiff and all
others similarly situationed (sic), [Sanchez and Iglesias]
were husband and wife."
When asked about the hiring of his wife, Iglesias said, "Ask
her, sir."
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As for his alleged use of two names, he said it's a
common practice and the allegation that he used them deceptively is false.
"Two last names, my friend," he said. "That's traditional, part of my
culture."
DBPR records show the agency was notified that its examiner was allegedly
serving as an association manager in a letter from attorney Eric Glazer, who
has represented residents at the condo, on Dec. 13.
Iglesias resigned his state position in early January, citing financial
reasons. Iglesias insists he only worked for the condo after he resigned and
signed a management contract with the board on Jan. 13.
"I was not employed by the DBPR while working for the association," he said.
Yet El Dorado Plaza West approved his management company on Oct. 18, while
he was still working for the state, and he described himself as manager of
the condo in an email addressed to several residents on Oct. 30.
"If we have evidence that shows you were paid while you were still with DBPR,
is there a problem with that?" Local 10 News investigative reporter Bob
Norman asked.
"Could there be a problem with that? Yes, there could be a problem with
that," Quin answered.
In addition to money paid to his wife under a contract that purportedly
included management fees,
Local 10 obtained a $500 check made out directly to Edy Quin from an El
Dorado Plaza West bank account in November, while he was still employed with
the state. He claimed he used that money to pay for common expenses at the
condo and that he never served as manager prior to leaving the state.
Numerous residents complained about Iglesias, and not only for what they
allege was his conflict of interest. Iglesias, who says he has completed law
school but does not have a law license, is currently suing three residents
for defamation, claiming, among other things, that they attacked "Mr. Quin's
good reputation as a professional financial investigator and a professional
association manager with the intent to damage and injure Mr. Quin's good
professional reputation."
When asked if it the lawsuit is designed to silence his detractors, Iglesias
said, "I have a right not have (to) have my name muddied and sullied by
people."
Daniel Perez, the new manager of the condo, said El Dorado Plaza West was
left in dire financial straits and said that Iglesias still hasn't turned
over many records related to his time in charge, something Iglesias
disputes.
Many residents said they just hope the DBPR -- which confirmed it has not
one but two active investigations involving Iglesias -- gets to the bottom
of the conflict.
In a written statement emailed to Local 10, the agency was vague: "DBPR
employees are required to comply with the Department's conflict of interest
policy, which mandates the ongoing duty to immediately disclose licensure,
employment and additional information that may result in a finding of
conflict. While the Department is unable to comment on the specifics of
employee separations, we can confirm that Mr. Iglesias' resignation was
accepted on Jan. 12, 2018. The Department will continue to monitor and
evaluate its employees' conduct to prevent impropriety and maintain the
public's trust." |