Hammocks residents celebrate HOA court win
MIAMI - Residents of Hammocks Community Center in West Kendall have more than one reason to celebrate. First the members of their home owners association were arrested and face charges of corruption this week, and this Thursday the employees of that board were fired by a circuit Miami-Dade Judge Beatrice Butchko, who listened for hours to frustrated Hammocks homeowners.
"So, here's the instructions. There's a receiver that is appointed and they now control the Hammock." Judge Butchko dictated instructions over a cell phone to a person who seemingly managed the rest of the employees in the HOA office. She informed the person on the other end of the call that the current board, their employer, has been removed. "So… gather your body and leave!" Homeowners clapped in the courtroom.
"I feel relieved," said Rosivette De Jesus in court. She had chance to address the judge who listened to howeowners. "Make sure that the association, us, we're not paying for the lawyers for the board members that were arrested."
In a matter of minutes those staffers back at the Hammocks office started leaving the premises in the midst of joy and screams from some of the homeowner taking video of their departure.
Five people were arrested this week, former and current board member of hammocks community center, charged with stealing millions of dollars from residents. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced a mix of theft, fraud and money laundering charges on Tuesday against Monica Isabel Ghilardi, Myriam Arango Rodgers, Yoleidis Lopez Garcia; former president Marglli Gallego; Joen Antonio Gonzalez, who is Gallego's husband and stands accused of running two companies that were paid at least $1.26 million in HOA funds.
"We used to pay quarterly $280," said Mohammed Rouman. He claims that he was notified his house would be foreclosed upon if he refused to pay the increased fees for maintenance. Rouman shared with the judge the increase in fees homeowners faced in a short period of time, "All of the sudden we went to $380 a month."
Attorney Michael Kaufman said, "After years of the people of the Hammocks being abused, a judge finally stepped in. She removed the board that's been abusive to this people. She replaced it with a receiver, a former judge. Come March of 2023, when the next elections for the board are scheduled to occur, control of the home owner's association will back to the community."