7’s Karen Hensel investigates.

The holiday season is right around the corner. It has people like Teresa Dotson looking for ways to make some extra money.

Teresa Dotson/identity stolen: “Because at my job, I’m a server and I was like, ‘You know, let me make some extra cash.'”

Last month, she signed up to be a driver on Uber.com.

Teresa Dotson: “You put in your driver’s license and your date of birth. They had you to put in your maiden name, all that information.”

That’s as far as she got because her account was immediately locked.

Teresa Dotson: “That’s when I called support and support actually was the one who discovered that I had multiple accounts with them. I told them that I never signed up for Uber, and then they discovered that I apparently was a driver in California and also Atlanta, Georgia.”

Both driver accounts listed Teresa’s personal information.

Teresa Dotson: “It’s scary because someone is using my information.”

Teresa isn’t alone.

There are stories from across the country of people who discovered their personal information had been used by someone else to register as a rideshare driver.

Eva Velasquez/Identity Theft Resource Center: “Well, we’re hearing more about it. We’ve got cases coming into the contact center.”

Eva Velasquez is the CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center.

She says this type of identity theft is usually the result of stolen driver’s license information.

Eva Velasquez: “There are even videos, not even on the dark web, they’re on Youtube, showing people who are like, ‘Stole all this mail, here are the drivers licenses for sale,’ and unbeknownst to the person who that’s their legitimate license, they don’t even know that this is going on.”

Thieves can use those stolen details to assume a person’s identity in order to pass background checks.

Eva Velasquez: “And it’s not up to the victim to fix that process, it’s really up to the organization to fix their authentication and verification processes.”

Uber uses a company called Checkr to perform its background checks.

Last year, both were sued in a South Florida federal court.

It claimed Uber was negligent in allowing a driver to use someone’s stolen identity and it added that both companies broke the law by not notifying the victim when doing a background check.

The case was thrown out because theft couldn’t be traced back to Uber or Checkr.

Eva Velasquez: “So hard to police, and even when you do, it’s very hard to figure out who actually owns that account, who is that person committing that’s these acts.”

Uber drivers have to pass a screening process before they’re allowed to work, but Teresa says it didn’t catch the two people posing as her.

Teresa Dotson: It’s just a scary situation because I have a daughter that, you know, uses Uber and Lyft, and just the thought of her getting in the car with someone that, it’s supposed to be that person and really, truly it’s not that person, you know? So it’s scary.”

Uber tells 7 Investigates it is looking into her case and says “Uber is continuously strengthening our processes to detect and protect against fraudsters’ ever-changing schemes.”

Teresa is now looking for ways to better protect her personal information so no one else can use it to get behind the wheel.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

They thought the situation was solved, but it turned out there was an even bigger problem lurking beneath the surface.

7’s Karen Hensel investigates.

People living at this condo complex in Oakland Park say the condition of their pool has gone from bad to worse.

Lisa, condo owner: “It bothers me a lot and it makes me really scared because anybody could have lost their life here.”

When 7 investigates first visited “Azul at Kimberly Lake” over the summer, the pool had been closed a few times in the past year.

William Cipriani, condo owner: “I mean there are ducks, you know, defecating in it. There are algae growing.”

The property management company seemed to get things back in order after our story aired.

Water quality issues were corrected and inspectors allowed the pool to reopen.

Condo owner William Cipriani says it didn’t last long.

William Cipriani: “So now it’s closed again.”

William called 7 Investigates last month after discovering there was a bigger problem at the pool.

It had been lurking just below the surface for months.

William Cipriani: “And from what I’m told, anyone swimming in the pool or grabbing the ladder could have been electrocuted!”

Public records show the pool was cited by Oakland Park Code Enforcement on January 28th. Six months before our first story.

The citation says a pool pump was installed without a permit… And it created an electrical concern.

The city tells 7News, “When pool pump equipment is installed’ it ‘requires an electrical permit’ to ‘ensure the electricity powering the pump is grounded properly.'”

Although the violation was issued back in January, residents say they just recently found out about it.

William Cipriani: “The residents that I know are absolutely fed up, especially now.”

The association has been fined $24,500 dollars, and it “continues to accrue.”

We asked the association president and its management company when the pool would be repaired, and how the fine would be resolved.

The manager said, “Azul at Kimberly Lake has no comment.”

Residents pay about $350 a month in association fees.

They know they could now be on the hook for the fine, as well as the cost to repair the pool.

Lisa: “And now them having to tear up the pavers, which they did a year less than a year ago to do it again, it costs us more money.”

William Cipriani: “Now the whole thing has to be dug up because the pool pump was not grounded.”

Owners wonder if they will be assessed again to re-do the pavers. And question when the pool will finally open.

But say it’s hard to get answers when board meetings are almost impossible to attend.

William Cipriani: “They hold association meetings in the middle of the day so nobody can attend them.”

Owners say if they don’t get answers soon. They may have to file a complaint against the board.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

John Browning Jr., homeowner: “There’s a lot of memories here. Yes, there’s a lot of memories here.”

This has been home for John Browning Jr. for decades. It was a gift from one of his sons, who was a former defensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs.

John Browning Jr.: “My oldest son bought the house back in 1996. He bought this house with money that he played football and made.”

He gave it to his dad, who has worked hard his whole life — detailing cars.

Now at age 76, John is the full-time caregiver for his disabled grandson.

John Browning Jr.: “Michael is mentally challenged, and he’s got cerebral palsy.”

Both his grandson and a second son live with him.

While he was not looking to sell his home, John was enticed when he got a call from MV Realty.

John Browning Jr.: “In fact, he called me about four times before I accepted it.”

The agreement: John got $1,465 cash in exchange for the company getting exclusive rights to sell his home sometime in the next 40 years.

John Browning Jr.: “I’m in a hard spot. I needed cash. That’s money you ain’t got to pay back, you know.”

But John did not know what he was really getting into — which was MV Realty putting a lien on his home. The agreement meant he could not sell, transfer or refinance it for the next 40 years without using the company.

John Browning Jr.: “I was getting ready to go through cataract surgery, so I couldn’t read a whole bunch of that stuff that he gave me.”

Signing the 40-year deal for quick cash was only the beginning of his home heartache. He was in debt, and because of the lien from MV Realty, he could not refinance his home, so he took out a large loan from a different company.

Now, faced with no way to pay it back, his only option is to sell his home.

John Browning Jr.: “I was doing the best I could. Just made a lot of bad choices, I guess. They got me, they doped me.”

John is not alone.

The Florida Attorney General’s Office has more than 200 complaints about MV Realty PBC and is suing the company, accusing it of operating “…a complex and deceptive scheme … with the goal of swindling consumers…”

The suit says homeowners were offered between $300 and $5,000 cash as a “loan alternative,” “in exchange” for them signing “misleading and confusing” contracts.

MV Realty says it operates in 33 states. Florida is now one of seven states taking action against the company.

John Browning Jr.: “They done trapped me into a whole bunch of stuff here that I didn’t even realize I was in, so that’s when I realized I was in trouble.”

John turned to a real estate broker for help to get out of the deal.

Margend Palacios, real estate broker: “He had to pay back, to be released, $13,965 penalty in exchange for a loan of $1,460. At the end of the day, they don’t deserve that money. It’s swindling, it was dishonest, it was something that has put this family in a situation where they didn’t need to be.”

John Browning Jr.: “I just feel real bad about the whole situation, you know, since I’m the one who got put into this for bad decisions that I made.”

On two days we stopped by the MV Realty office in Boca Raton, it was empty. We reached out to the company and its attorney and are still waiting to hear back.

In court filings, MV Realty denies wrongdoing and says what they have been doing is legal.

And, while a judge denied their attempt to dismiss Florida’s lawsuit, in September, MV Realty filed for bankruptcy protection.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Consumers with complaints about MV Realty can contact the Florida Attorney General’s Office: 
1(866) 9NO-SCAM 
MyFloridaLegal.com

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Nancy flew into South Florida for the same reason many people do.

Nancy Turner: “We wanted to have somewhere to come in the wintertime when it gets cold.”

Nancy wanted to buy a home and found this listing for beautiful townhouses in Davie.

Nancy Turner: “I like that it was a new build and it had square footage with the pool on the back.”

Nancy contacted the company, Omni Development and Consulting services in Fort Lauderdale, and signed a contract in 2022 to buy two units; one for her and one for her daughter.

Nancy Turner: $320,000 for the down payment

In 2021, Alexander Alonso saw that Omni Development was advertising townhouses on this property in Miramar.

Alexander Alonso: “Oh, they were modern looking. Three story townhomes, family oriented.”

Alexander put down $64,000 and started waiting.

Alexander Alonso: “They always put me off, put me off, always excuses.”

Nancy was also waiting.

On the site of the proposed Davie development, is a nice sign about the project.

The man who says he is the president of the company, Tyler Jones, even sent Nancy a picture of himself and his so called project manager at the Davie groundbreaking. But as you can see, no shovels have touched the place.

So Nancy went to meet Jones.

Nancy Turner: “And he just kept making up excuses.”

Nancy asked for her $320,000 back and couldn’t get it. Alexander tried to get his $64,000 in life savings back and couldn’t get it.

Alexander Alonso: “They don’t respond or anything anymore. Not to emails, Not to texts, nothing.”

They both contacted local police departments and were told most cases like these are not crimes. They’re civil matters and you have to sue the developer.

Nancy Turner: “Police told us that is normal, we should give them time”

But Nancy wasn’t the only person contacting Davie police about Omni Development. Six more people told detectives they put down large deposits to buy a town house on this property.

Police went to work and what was a civil case, may now be a criminal case.

Peter Patton: “The fact that there have been such a great amount of time with no work being done whatsoever. The town has no permits pulled or anything like that. So that’s what brought it to a level of suspicion high enough for us to conduct an investigation into it.”

And as we started digging, we found red flags everywhere.

The Davie address on the ad where the houses would be built, doesn’t exist.

Omni Development doesn’t own the property after a $250,000 check they wrote to finalize the purchase, bounced.

The man who called himself Tyler Jones when he met Nancy, is actually Dennis Wendall Jones, who was recently arrested for domestic violence. Who is currently on ten years probation for grand theft after taking a persons money.

He is also on probation for 10 years after pleading no contest to several charges such as money laundering and organized fraud.

Alexander Alonso: “Oh, my gosh. So his chances of getting paid are going to be slim.”

We spoke to Jones, who he said he would return Nancy’s money in early October. He didn’t. After that, he wouldn’t return our calls.

We spoke to the man, Woodward Warren, who is listed as the manager for Omni Development Holdings.

He told us Omni has at least 10 projects they are planning. When we started asking more questions, he said, ‘Call my attorney,’ but he couldn’t remember his attorney’s name.

Nancy Turner: “Horrified. Just horrified. Upset.”

We also found three more cases of people in Fort Lauderdale who paid the Omni Development Group to build a house and didn’t get it.

Eleven people we have now discovered. Many have given up hope, but not the Davie Police.

Peter Patton: “See if there’s any way to get the money back and then see what criminal charges will apply in the future.”

And then Tuesday morning, we were in court to see Jones, wearing an Omni shirt, appear on an unrelated case.

He was surprised to find out Davie Police had issued an arrest warrant for him.

Jones was handcuffed and taken to jail, and charged with grand theft of over $100,000, money laundering and violation of probation.

Also, the the sign advertising the Omni Project in Davie has been cut down, destroyed, just like Nancy’s dreams.”

Nancy Turner: “Don’t make me cry ’cause I’ve been trying not to. But yes, but the thing is devastating.”

If convicted, Jones faces 30 years in prison.

And the people like Nancy and Alexander, who lost their lives savings, are left to hope police and the courts can help recover some of their money.

I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

If you given money to Omni Development and you feel like you’re a victim, call the Davie Economic Crimes Division at 954-693-8200.

This condo building’s surveillance video starts with a Miami Beach Code Compliance officer getting out of his car. Notice these two recycling bins, with their lids closed, in the alley next to the Nautilus Towers condominium.

But watch what happens next. The officer opens one of the bins and arranges boxes inside so the lid no longer closes. He then opens it again, stacks even more boxes and raises the lid even higher before walking back to his car.

Berta Flynn, resident: “Oh, ahh, interesting.”

We showed the video to Berta Flynn, a unit owner at Nautilus.

Karen Hensel: “Does it surprise you that a code enforcement officer would do that?”

Berta Flynn: “It does. Unfortunately, it happens.”

And unfortunately for the Code Compliance officer, a surveillance camera on the building captured him rearranging the recycling bin clear as day.

But what is not clear is the motivation behind his bizarre behavior.

Body camera videos and records obtained by 7 Investigates provide a more complete picture of what happened on that November day last year.

Code Compliance officer (in bodycam video): “Now let’s go ahead and take a picture of that.”

Turns out, the officer seen taking a picture of the overflowing container was training a new officer on how to identify and cite violators.

Trainee (in bodycam video): “Doing a sanitation detail on 41st Street. Garbage can overflow.”

But it didn’t end there. The pair came back later in the day and slapped a trash violation notice on the building. It gave the condo 24 hours to fix the manufactured problem or face a $300 fine.

When the property management company reviewed its own surveillance video, it alerted the city. Miami Beach Police conducted an internal affairs investigation and questioned the code officer.

Internal affairs investigator: “Now, you guys posted it. Why did you leave it posted on the building? Can you explain?”

Code compliance officer: “Um, that was poor judgment on my part. Um, you know, I’m very sorry about that.”

The employee, with six and a half years’ experience, told investigators he was teaching the trainee the basics of sanitation details.

Code compliance officer: “So that she has a full and complete understanding and she receives some quality training.”

But he did not tell the condo building, or his supervisors, that this was all just an exercise.

And although he said his intention was to help the trainee, he admitted…

Code compliance officer: “These actions were unorthodox and uncommon, possibly even wrong. I will not engage in this type of activity again, and I’m very sorry.”

As for discipline, the officer got a one-day suspension.

The city wrote: “Your actions have violated our organization’s policies and procedures and compromised the integrity of our operations.”

Karen Hensel: “The code enforcement officer ended up saying, ‘Well, I was doing training.'”

Berta Flynn: “Ohh, what a nice excuse.”

Meanwhile, our camera captured open trash and recycling bins all over Miami Beach — which raises the question: why stage one in the first place?

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

7 Investigates was there for the reunion.

Here’s Karen Hensel.

Timothy Sweat/Bear’s owner: “My baby bear. I know. I miss you so much. Oh my goodness. Daddy’s here.”

Timothy Sweat has spent the last 91 days fighting for this moment.

Timothy Sweat: “My little baby boy. My little baby boy.”

On July 26, someone tried to take his dog Bear while they were on a walk in Dania Beach. Timothy fought the person off but he was severely beaten and rushed to the hospital Police took Bear to animal care for safe keeping but the shelter did not keep the Yorki-poo safe for Timothy.

Timothy Sweat: “The second I got out of the hospital, still bleeding, still had the tags on me, I got to the animal shelter and they just politely walked out and said, ‘He’s gone and we gave him away.'”

Through 7 Investigates, Timothy made a public plea to the woman who adopted Bear, Sharon Barnett

But Barnett refused to take his calls and our calls. She wouldn’t talk to us when we caught up with her at home.

With no other option, Timothy sued her in court.

Barnett told the court she gave Bear to her godson and the dog was in New Jersey.

The court ruled Bear likely belonged to Tim and he was “entitled to take possession” of the dog.

Gregory Elder/Timothy’s attorney: “So, I think she knew there was a process server and that the day of reckoning was coming.”

Attorney Gregory Elder was getting ready to ask the court to order Barnett to bring Bear back to Florida, but the family in New Jersey suddenly said they would give Bear back.

Gregory Elder: “It was a culmination of terrible events happening one after another, you know, and ultimately, of course, the worst part of it is he had to resort to the legal system.”

7 Investigates flew with Timothy to New Jersey for the reunion he feared would never happen. He was nervous until the moment bear ran into his arms.

Timothy Sweat: “My baby. We’re going to go home. Ya, we’re going to go home.”

Timothy flew Bear back here to Fort Lauderdale the same day. He is still considering a lawsuit against animal control for the money he’s spent on lawyers and flights, but for now, is just glad to have Bear back where he belongs.”

Timothy Sweat: “We’re just going to enjoy each other’s company and just get back into our normal routine and start our life again.”

A life filled with the kind of joy a precious pet can bring.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Ada Gonzalez’s top priority is the success of her students.

Ada Gonzalez, principal, Cambridge International Academy: “The parents and the children, they’re not just our students. They’re our family.”

She’s the principal of Cambridge International Academy in Pembroke Pines.

But the school nearly closed when money from the state’s school voucher program never came.

Ada Gonzalez: “It was a moment of total panic.”

That’s when the school’s owner stepped in.

Ada Gonzalez: “She had to take from her own, reach into her pocket, basically, to be able to meet payroll and max out credit cards. She’s also had to take out two high-interest loans.”

This private school isn’t the only one struggling.

Tasha Hill, director, Cutler Bay Christian Academy: “We’re finding ourselves in a bad situation. We have to explain to our employees, ‘OK. Hey, be patient. Can you wait? Can I give you a check next week?’ It’s an embarrassing situation what’s going on now.”

Cambridge International Academy and Cutler Bay Christian Academy are two of at least 2,000 private schools in Florida that are funded through Step Up for Students. The nonprofit organization is contracted by the state to distribute scholarship money that comes from state taxes and donations.

The payments are supposed to be distributed to schools quarterly, beginning no later than Sept. 1.

Tasha Hill: “In the past, we never had a issue. Funds were always on time. You can depend on it.”

Why is this school year different?

Back in March, Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the state’s school voucher program to include all students, no matter their family income.

In a statement to 7News, the Florida Department of Education says, “A record number of Florida families have applied to take part in the expanded state scholarship program.”

But that record number is taking its toll.

Ada Gonzalez: “I feel helpless, because you call and there’s no resolution. You know, you call, you email, they tell you, ‘No, you have to email here.'”

And parents are concerned that if funds continue to trickle in little by little, some schools could close.

Jessica Jones, parent: “It’s extremely stressful, because I don’t have anywhere else to send my child. That’s just the truth: there are no other options.”

Jessica, the mother of a kindergartner with autism, says her son’s future could be jeopardized.

Jessica Jones: “I had such a struggle to find this school, so I would have to start from square one.”

Ada Gonzalez: “We’re just hopeful that it’s not going to happen again. But who knows. If we were to have to close, it would be devastating.”

Dedicated teachers continue to work at the Cambridge International Academy as they wait for the remaining funding to come in. But clearly, something needs to be done to keep these schools on course.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Parts of the video you are about to see are difficult to watch.

Investigative reporter Karen Hensel has the exclusive.

Jalisa Edwards was in a Broward courtroom, Monday morning.

Judge: “Ms. Edwards, good morning.”

Facing charges from a violent night with a man she had met on a dating app.

Karen Hensel: “Prosecutors see him as a victim. How do you see it?”

Jalisa Edwards: “He’s not a victim. I don’t see him, he’s a aggressor.”

It was Feb. 25, 2022.

The man you hear lives in this Plantation home. The woman knocking is Jalisa. They had just started dating.

Jalisa Edwards: “We went to his house. We watched a movie, and then we fell asleep for the next day for our date that we were supposed to have the next day. Yeah. So it’s a pretty simple night.”

But there was nothing simple about what happened the next night after it was clear there was no love connection.

Jalisa Edwards: “I dropped him off and then I sat in my car for a few seconds and I was like, ‘Wait. He has my belongings, phone items.’ I was like, ‘Wait, no. I have to get this stuff back. I can’t just disappear. I want my things back.'”

The man loudly and repeatedly demands Jalisa leave his home.

Man: “Get the [expletive] out of my crib.”

She does not and they argue about money Jalisa says she is owed from their day at a casino.

Watch closely. Just a minute into their argument, he pushes Jalisa. She pushes an appliance off the counter, grabs a knife, drops it and then this.

Jalisa Edwards: “Get the [expletive] off me!”

Jalisa, who did not have her cell phone, sits down at a table.

Man: “Get the [expletive] of my crib.”

Jalisa Edwards: “You have my property, you owe me money, call the police.

They continue to scream at each other and both hold knives at various times through the roughly 20 minutes of chaos. At one point, the fight moves outside.

Man: “Put the knife down, put the knife down.”

Jalisa is seen back inside the home first, throwing things around the room.

And once he comes back in, the situation goes from bad to worse

Jalisa goes at him with a knife.

They fight for control of the knife that he eventually gets and starts to stab her repeatedly as she begs for help

Jalisa Edwards: “Please, please help me. Please help me.”

The video shows him stabbing at her more than 60 times.

Jalisa Edwards: “I thought I was done. I thought I was gone. I thought, I thought about my mom.”

Jalisa Edwards in the video: “Please stop hurting me, please stop hurting me, I’m so sorry.”

Man: “I tried to call the [expletive] police.”

He is still on top of her when Plantation Police officers rush in.

Officer: “Get down, get the [expletive] down now!”

They cuff him but he was not the one who ended up with a mug shot. She was.

The man, who we are not identifying because he is listed as the “victim,” told police: “…I wasn’t trying to hurt her or kill her. I just really wanted her to leave my house…”

Officers wrote he had a “severed tendon in his right pinkie” and a picture shows a cut on his shoulder.

Jalisa Edwards: “My pinkie could have fully came off.”

Jalisa says she had three surgeries, got more than 60 stitches on her hands, along with 10 staples in her head.

Gordon Weekes/Broward public defender: “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Broward public defender Gordon Weekes says their client was the one fighting for her life.

Gordon Weekes: “There is absolutely no justification for that level of violence that he’s using towards her.”

Back in court, the man’s mother said the whole situation could have been avoided.

Victim’s mother: “I hope moving forward that she learns from this. Also, my son, I hope he learns from this.”

Jalisa decided not to roll the dice with a jury trial. She agreed to a plea deal of two years probation and must complete an anger management program.

Jalisa Edwards: “It’s something that did change my life. It taught me a lot. For one, just walk away.”

The Broward State Attorney’s Office called their offer “appropriate and fair” and said “the case was resolved in a manner that both sides found acceptable and appropriate, considering everything that happened.” Jalisa must still pay restitution for damages done inside the home and his medical bills.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Speaking with 7News on Saturday, the parents of UM students who live at The Cloisters apartment complex voiced their frustration

“Everybody here has an issue. There are some that came a very long distance because they are so worried about their child,” said concerned parent Rob Connors. “We feel like we’re not getting any answers, we’re just hearing about more problems.”

The latest issue, these parents said, is a gas leak in one of the buildings.

“We’re about day 4 now; it’s Saturday,” said one parent. “I don’t believe that the local gas companies are here. I don’t see them.”

7 Investigates has kept a close eye on the conditions at The Cloisters.

Just last month, a sewage backup pushed feces into bathtubs, overflowing the toilets and filling kitchen sinks.

“It was an overabundance of live, fresh, raw sewage coming out the very first night that these students moved in,” said one parent, “and now [my daughter’s] apartment is a construction zone with sand, dirt, the floor dug up, pipes exposed and no resolution.”

Plumbing is not the only problem. These students told 7 Investigates’ Karen Hensel that safety also has been a concern.

“We don’t have window shades, we don’t have blinds,” said a student.

“I tried to open my closet door, and it fell off on top of me,” said another student

Adding to broken promises of move-in ready apartments — fully furnished, with a fitness center and a pool

“There’s no amenities, there’s nothing, nothing, nothing that they have delivered except walls and a ceiling,” said one parent.

Students shared new pictures of the gym shared with 7News. Weights stacked on top of each other, and dust is seen surrounding the equipment.

Landmark Properties, the company that owns The Cloisters, told 7 Investigates, “The health and safety of our residents is top priority. We are addressing work orders as quickly as we are able and by level of priority.”

However, these students are still put out, and their parents are stuck paying high rent. Now they want action.

“They need to let people out of their lease, and they need to most likely knock the building down,” said one parent.

“The look of it it doesn’t match the brochure, and I think that’s pretty clear, right?” said Connors. “What we signed up for was sort of a paradise place that was really nearby, and the rent was high, and we knew that. We wanted our kids to be in a good place. What were getting is not that.”

These parents added that they will continue pressing forward, contacting local officials in hopes of some answers.

The pictures tell the story inside the Cloisters apartments. A sewage backup pushing feces into bathtubs, overflowing the toilets and filling kitchen sinks.

This UM student did not want to appear on camera but shared these pictures and video of her brand-new apartment.

Anonymous UM student: “And I came back to see this, and there was no way to stop it. I used all my towels, all my friends’ towels, everything. And then I called the emergency contact, and no one answered it.”

Human waste coming from plumbing is a common concern.

Gianna: “We currently have feces coming out of our kitchen sink, and we’re trying to get someone on it.”

Celeste Fisher says her bathroom is also a mess.

Celeste Fisher, UM junior: “We don’t have shower-heads either. And when we tried to shower out of the hole, there was gunk coming out of the shower.”

Karen Hensel: “What kind of gunk?”

Celeste Fisher: “It was like almost like a brown sandy substance.”

But it’s not just plumbing problems plaguing the students.

Alyssa: “We don’t have window shades, we don’t have any blinds.”

Anonymous UM student: “I tried to open my closet door, and it fell off on top of me. So we used the closet door to block the window.”

Some students say they have no locks on their doors, which is a safety concern for both them and their parents.

One parent wrote on Facebook, “Construction workers can see into every window and door,” saying the complex has placed “…Hundreds of students in unlivable and potentially deadly conditions.”

Karen Hensel: “Do you feel safe here?”

Anonymous student: “No, I’m not sleeping here anymore.”

Celeste Fisher: “No, not at all. God, no.”

Gianna Rettew: “No, absolutely not.”

Alyssa Mirenda: “Our front door is like rotting, rotting off. Someone could kick it down.”

Brooke Harrison: “No, it’s not good.”

Landmark Properties owns the Cloisters and tells 7 Investigates, “The health and safety of our residents is our top priority. We are addressing work orders as quickly as we are able and by level of priority.”

If it is bad enough students cannot live in their apartment, Landmark says they are “…providing alternate accommodations.”

Records show Miami-Dade County did issue a temporary certificate of occupancy.

How or why? We don’t know, because the county has not responded.

But we were there when a team of county inspectors arrived this week.

Meanwhile, students tell us the situation is taking a toll.

Celeste Fisher: “It’s already put so much stress on me, so much stress on my parents, like, I’m getting behind in school. I can’t – I feel like I can’t live, you know? It really sucks.”

Karen: “What is this doing to your schoolwork?”

Alyssa Mirenda: “It’s like midterms right now, so we’re having a hard time. We’re more worried about the feces in our sink than studying.”

Some parents have hired attorneys and sent lease termination letters. Others are simply trying to find a place anywhere other than here for their students to live and study.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Miami-Dade County RER released the following statement to 7 News:

Last week, the Miami-Dade County’s building official overseeing permitting for the unincorporated portion of the county received inquiries from concerned parents of students residing at the Cloisters housing development, after a sewage line blockage was reported at one of the buildings located near the University of Miami Campus.

The affected building is one of two that have been undergoing renovations by the contractor, Landmark Construction LLC, located at 5830 SW 57 Avenue, with four dwelling units affected by the blockage.

The contractor applied for a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) from Miami-Dade County as it continued to work on finalizing details. The contractor opted to use a private provider for inspections, Universal Engineering Sciences, as permitted by state law, in lieu of the County, to perform all site inspections necessary to confirm compliance with the building code, up to and including the TCO. Miami-Dade County’s Building Official issued the TCO on Friday, September 19, 2023, based on the inspection approval and recommendations provided by Universal Engineering Sciences, which recommended the TCO be issued and allow occupancy.

On Tuesday morning, September 26th, and based on the complaints received, Miami-Dade County building inspectors of all trades were on site to meet with the private provider and the contractor to inspect the complaints and the current on-site conditions. The contractor provided Miami-Dade County with a list of action items to address the problems, which included clearing the blockage and videoing all sewer lines. Any additional work necessary to remedy the problems found will require additional permitting and inspections.

State law gives a project owner the right to choose a third-party private inspection company instead of using the local building official.  In this case, the building official assumes an audit role.  The County is conducting a full audit of the private provider’s services to make sure that all required inspections for the project were performed and the personnel sent to inspect have the proper credentials, are employees of the private provider company, and maintain the proper level of professional liability insurance, as required by law.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

7’s Karen Hensel investigates.

Munchie is the face of Munchie’s Pizza Club in Fort Lauderdale.

It’s a restaurant by day and club at night.

But Munchie’s is being dogged by former business partners, and the owner says his employees are concerned.

Steve Berke: “They’re nervous about these people coming back in here and hurting them.”

Back in March, surveillance video shows a man walking around inside the restaurant when it was closed. He props open the front door and 12 people walk in.

They grab equipment around the DJ stage and walk out.

Steve Berke: “They took LED processors, they took a laptop computer, they took money, they took all kinds of production equipment.”

Police reports say an employee showed up while it was happening. He was injured when he tried to stop the group.

Steve Berke: “One of the perpetrators, swung one of our LED panels at him and cut him up on his arms.”

Thankfully that employee recovered, but Steve says his workers were left terrified again in August. A group of people walked in, unbolted an LED screen off the wall and loaded it onto a truck waiting at the corner.

Steve Berke: While we were open for business, while we had patrons inside.”

An employee tries to close the doors, but the group forces them open and two men walk out with the LED screen.

According to police reports, employees identified two of the people in the group as Nelson Dejesus Avalo Jr. and Peter Maxwell Verna.

They have a business called Collegiate Nightlife LLC.

Steve Berke: “We had hire them to promote certain nights.”

Steve told police he was in the process of renegotiating the restaurant’s contract with the company for the spring break season. But he and Avalo Jr. couldn’t come to an agreement.

Police are investigating if it has something to do with the equipment being taken.

Steve Berke: “There was a process to file a police report, and even though we had them on camera, they, because they said, ‘Oh, well, some of the stuff was theirs, That might be a civil matter.’ While some of the equipment belonged to them, a lot of it was ours.”

We called and emailed Avalo Jr. and Verna. They didn’t answer our messages.

No one else caught on video has been identified, and no arrests have been made.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department tells 7News: “…Due to the different aspects of the case (civil vs criminal), it has taken some time to gather all of the available information from the victim and witnesses.”

Steve says the wait has been tough for his employees.

Steve Berke: “Right. They’ve come twice and they are nervous.”

Steve quickly replaced the equipment that was taken but restoring his employees’ peace of mind may take some time.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Fort Lauderdale Police on Tuesday told 7News they referred the case to the State Attorney’s Office.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Carmel Cafiero was known for her unwavering passion, persistence, and pointed questions, leaving an indelible mark on journalism in South Florida. Her commitment to seeking the truth and holding those in power accountable was a hallmark of her career.

“How can you justify giving out a million oxycodone pills? Don’t touch the camera, don’t touch the camera!” Cafiero said in one of her investigations.

She was always on the case and usually on someone’s tail.

“Mr. Rodriguez, where are you going? Wait, mister,” Cafiero said.

Born in New Orleans, Cafiero initially worked in radio before making her mark at WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, where she became the first woman to anchor an evening newscast in the state. In 1973, she joined Channel 7, then known as WCKT, as a general assignment reporter, becoming the station’s first female journalist at a time when newsrooms were predominantly male.

“Not only was she breaking stories, she was breaking ceilings with who she was and the quality of her professionalism,” Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade State Attorney told 7News.

“The thing that I find rewarding about my work is informing people, and if by informing people we can avoid one person from being hurt or taken in, then it’s a success,” Cafiero said in one of her investigations.

Cafiero fearlessly pursued stories that exposed wrongdoing and served the public interest.

In one of Carmel’s first big stories, she wore a wig and went undercover to expose unlicensed doctors who performed abortions and clinic workers who told women they were pregnant when they weren’t. Carmel was told she was pregnant based on a urine sample from her male photographer.

Her investigative work exposed defective Chinese drywall in South Florida homes, dangerous pet jerky treats from China linked to dog deaths, and the sale of used mattresses as new.

“We found dirt, we found stains, we found hair, we even found stains on cardboard in the children’s mattress,” Cafiero said in one of her investigations.

In 2008, Carmel Cafiero’s groundbreaking reporting unveiled the opioid crisis, with Broward County at its epicenter.

“It was a scourge on our community. Seven Floridians a day were dying from overdoses,” Al Lamberti, former Broward County Sheriff said.

Millions of highly addictive prescription painkillers flowed freely from clinics to people. Many from out of state, who used, abused and sold them.

“We have pictures of people snorting, shooting up in this parking lot after coming out of your clinic. I mean, what do you have to say about what’s going on here?,” Cafiero said in a previous story.

“I don’t think you’re right,” the clinic owner said.

Her series led to the prosecution of clinic operators and doctors and earned her the prestigious Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award. Her work not only won awards but also contributed to saving lives and influencing changes in the law.

“One of the things that her stories were critical for, we got that prescription drug monitoring program. It was passed by the Florida legislature, mainly because of the media attention that Carmel brought to the problem,” said Lamberti.

Carmel Cafiero’s dedication extended beyond investigative reporting.

She shed light on the plight of young teens overdosing outside a Pompano Beach nightclub, confronting the club’s owner, a convicted felon.

“If you know anything about my background, if you know anything about my background, then you’d leave me alone,” the club’s owner said.

Some people may have tried to hide from the law, but they couldn’t hide from Carmel.

“Don’t run from me… Don’t you think as a public official, you ought to answer our questions?” Carmel said during an investigation.

“I’m wondering how you’re able to park in a disabled spot?” she told officials.

She also exposed the deception of self-proclaimed celebrity “psychic” Miss Cleo, whose customers were deceived nationwide.

“I think you are quite finished. Thank you, my dear,” Cleo told Carmel.

During a time of national crisis after the September 11th attacks, Cafiero was the first reporter allowed inside terrorist Mohamed Atta’s former Hollywood apartment.

“It will take more than soap and water to scrub away the stains and the ghosts left behind by the terrorists responsible for our national nightmare.”

Her commitment to seeking truth and uncovering the facts knew no bounds, taking her from the streets of South Florida to towns across the globe.

In 1997, she tracked down former Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Gersten in Australia, and in 2013, she interviewed Francesco Schettino, the captain of one of the worst cruise ship disasters in history in Italy.

“They’ve called you this, ‘Chicken of the Sea.’ They’ve called you ‘Captain Coward,” Carmel said.

“I cannot be a coward. If you are a captain of a ship, you are not a coward. Come on, this is a joke,” Schettino said.

“You think back about the kind of impact that she’s had — whether it was after Hurricane Andrew, helping change the building code — She went down there and covered so much of that,” said Fernandez Rundle.

Cafiero also covered the devastation caused by hurricanes in both of her hometowns.

“This is your roof, right? This is what your roof was made up of?” Cafiero said.

“I was born and raised in and around New Orleans. Coming back now is both a heartbreaking and a heartwarming journey.”

Her compassion extended to the story of Selma Shapiro, whose home was a literal nightmare, infested with rats and covered in droppings.

Cafiero’s relentless reporting played a role in rallying the community to help Selma and turn her life around.

“I didn’t realize that people actually cared about me. I thought no one cared about me, but I found out differently,” Selma Shapiro told Carmel when she helped her.

Throughout her 43-year career, Carmel Cafiero consistently asked tough questions in her relentless pursuit of the truth. Her legacy as a fearless investigative journalist will forever be remembered in South Florida.

Carmel Cafiero is survived by her husband Bob, her daughter Courtney and her two granddaughters Mariah and Melanie.

“I am grateful for you allowing me into your homes and for WSVN for giving me that opportunity.”

Click here to see all of Carmel’s investigations.

Most college kids look forward to getting out of the dorms and into their own apartments.

Amanda Mohamad, UM student: “I don’t have a home. I don’t have a home.”

UM sophomore Amanda Mohamad was looking forward to moving into The Cloisters Student Apartments near campus. Instead, she’s been stuck in a hotel while the apartments are being renovated.

Amanda Mohamad: “Exactly 30 days.”

Her parents are still paying the rent for an apartment where she can’t live.

Eric Mohamad, Amanda’s father: “So they’ve asked for two months’ rent payment before the kids have actually even moved in yet.”

The Cloisters is supposed to offer furnished student apartments, a fitness center and a pool. Plus, it’s just a short walk to campus.

Anh Steininger, parent of student in hotel: “It does not look like it is ready to be moved in.”

Parents shared pictures from the past two weeks with 7 Investigates. They are concerned with how long it’s taking for work to be completed.

Anh Steininger: “It’s obvious that it’s not ready, yet they keep sending out emails that it is ready, until the day before, and that’s when they say, ‘Oh, by the way, it’s not ready.'”

Landmark Properties bought the Cloisters property a few years ago.

In 2022, it began renovating the existing apartments, along with adding new townhomes. The apartments were supposed to be ready by Aug. 18.

The move-in date has been pushed back at least three times.

Anh Steininger: “I think these kids have so much going on already, the last thing they need is more stress as to where they are going to live.”

And parents are stressed because they are still on the hook for the rent.

This 56-page lease says “…The failure on the part of the landlord to assign a unit to resident … shall not relieve resident of his or her responsibilities…”
If the apartment isn’t ready, the landlord can provide “temporary accommodations (which may include, without limitation, hotels)…”

Eric Mohamad: “So, if they’re providing a hotel space for you, then you can’t break the lease. And that’s what’s written in the lease.”

The lease says it can only be broken within 30 days of the move-in date if “alternative accommodations” are not provided.

Amanda Mohamad: “All I have is a bedroom and a bathroom and a very small closet. I don’t even have, you know, drawer space for my clothes. I’m practically living out of my suitcases.”

We reached out to Landmark Properties.

The company tells 7 Investigates, “We are on schedule for all students to move into the renovated buildings on our Cloisters Miami property Friday morning, September 22. … Unforeseen construction delays pushed back our move-in timeline for this final group of move-ins.”

Parents and students are skeptical, because the move-in has been pushed back so many times.

For now, it’s set for Friday, but that doesn’t mean everything is finished. Landmark Properties says work continues on the pool, fitness center and leasing office.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

Students tell 7News they were notified about the move-ins late Thursday, and they’ve been told they can pick up their keys starting Friday at 7 a.m.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Karen Hensel has tonight’s 7 Investigates.

Errol Leath reads his Bible everyday.

He suffers from epileptic seizures and has difficulty speaking.

Errol Leath/mistaken for murder suspect: “I couldn’t like, correct proper terms or read properly, so I’ll often always read.”

Because of his epilepsy he can’t drive so he takes the bus. But his ride turned frightening when he got off the bus on July 19.

Officer: “You right there! Don’t [expletive] move.”

Within seconds, Errol is on the ground surrounded by a fugitive task force with rifles pointed down at him.

Errol Leath: “What did I do?”

Officer: “Don’t [expletive] move man.”

Errol Leath: “What did I do? I got epilepsy, bro.”

Officer: “It’s alright. Be cool, bro.”

Errol Leath: “I got seizures, bro.”

He repeatedly tells the officers he has epileptic seizures and repeatedly asks what he did wrong.

Errol Leath: “Check my pockets man. I got medicine, dude.”

When police check his bag they find his bible, ID, and seizure medication.

Officer: “Errol Leath. What’s your name?”

Errol Leath: “Errol Leath!”

Officer: “OK.”

That’s when they realize Errol is not their murder suspect. But police still have one more question.

Officer: “Why’d you start to run away from the police though?”

Errol Leath: “I didn’t thought you was after me!”

Officer: “Listen, you look like someone we’re looking for, OK? That’s wanted for murder.”

Errol Leath: “Murder?! I never killed no one in my life.”

Officer: “Alright, we didn’t say you did. These things happen. You look just like him. So.”

Errol Leath: “Dude, I see my neurologist this Friday.”

Police hid the faces of the task force members, including U.S Marshals before releasing their body camera video to 7 Investigates.

During the 13-minute exchange, Errol is visibly distressed.

Errol Leath: “I’m trying to recover from seizures man. Y’all are making this worse, bro.”

We met with Errol here at the bus stop where this case of mistaken identity went down. He ended up at the hospital that day afraid the stress was going to trigger another seizure.

Errol Leath: “I was going into a blurriness and that’s what slightly happens when you’re going into an episode.”

Once police realized they had the wrong man…

Officer: “Listen, it’s unfortunate, but you have, it’s almost like your twin brother.”

Officers explained.

Officer: “OK, it was a mis-identity, alright that’s wanted for murder, OK? So a pretty serious crime, which is why the way that we come out, is the way that we did.”

They also apologized.

Officer: “And these things happen sometimes. Like 99% of the time we get the right person but you look identical, which will be documented in the report, OK? And unfortunately, this circumstance happened to you. So, apologize for that.”

So who was the Fugitive Task Force actually looking for? This man. 40-year-old Daenon King, who three weeks later, was arrested, accused of shooting a 68-year-old man in the back of the neck.

Karen Hensel: “So this is the person that they were looking for.”

Errol Leath: “Oh my goodness”

Karen Hensel: “Do you see the resemblance?”

Errol Leath: “Oh, wow. That doesn’t look like me. That’s not me.”

In a statement, Fort Lauderdale Police tell us officers saw “a man with several identifying features that were similar to the suspect … in an area known to be frequented by the suspect.”

The department apologized to Errol. The full statement reads as follows:

“The Fort Lauderdale Police Department would like to express our sincere apology to the man who was mistakenly identified as a suspect being sought for a violent murder.

On July 19, 2023, FLPD’s Career Criminal Unit, working in conjunction with the US Marshals Task Force, observed a man with several identifying features that were similar to the suspect being sought for the murder. This man, identified later as Errol Leath, was observed in an area known to be frequented by the suspect. Mr. Leath was seen exiting a bus, saw our officers, and began to flee. Our officers had their firearms drawn because the suspect was known to be armed and dangerous. They detained Mr. Leath without incident and quickly realized he was not the suspect. Mr. Leath was immediately released from handcuffs. Detectives explained to Mr. Leath what had happened and apologized for the error. They additionally ensured Mr. Leath that the incident would be documented and explained how he could obtain a copy of the report if he wished.

The actual suspect, identified as Daenon Malik King, B/M, DOB 05/25/1983, was located by FLPD’s Career Criminal Unit on August 11, 2023. He was arrested and charged with the murder of Jackie Robinson Brown that occurred on April 5, 2023.

We recognize the impact this mistake can have on an innocent individual. We will continue to be committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and fairness in our policing efforts as we serve our community.”

Errol Leath: “I didn’t think it was me. I’m getting off the bus thinking they’re going after someone else. I’m trying to get out the way. I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy to go through that.”

A case of mistaken identity that has left Errol deeply troubled.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

This is Bear. Timothy Sweat adopted him when he was just a puppy.

Timothy Sweat: “He is a very sweet little boy. He is a Yorkie-poo, spoiled. He’s 3 years old, and we have never been apart.”

But that changed on July 19, when Timothy took Bear for an evening walk near Federal Highway and Northeast First Street in Dania Beach.

Timothy Sweat: “I was approached by a young man who seemed very interested in my dog, and then he attempted to take my dog. And when I stopped him, he assaulted me.”

Timothy was so badly beaten, he suffered a brain injury and had to be hospitalized for nearly two weeks.

Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies took Bear to Broward County Animal Care.

Timothy Sweat: “He was supposed to be taken into protective services while I was in surgery, and I’ve heard that they keep dogs up to three weeks if you’re out in a medical situation. And my dog was put up for adoption after seven days and adopted quickly.”

The woman who adopted Bear is Sharon Barnett of Margate. Timothy says he called her every day to ask her to return Bear.

He says she only talked to him once.

Timothy Sweat: “She listened to what I had to say, and she goes, ‘I have no further comment.’ And now there’s been no response from her whatsoever.”

We tried to talk to Sharon Barnett at her home.

Karen Hensel: “I’m Karen with 7News. Can we talk to you about the dog that you adopted?”

She would not answer our questions.

Timothy says he felt his only choice was to hire a lawyer.

Marcy Lahart, Sweat’s attorney: “It’s unfortunate that this had to happen. If this person who adopted the dog had an ounce of compassion, she would return the dog to its rightful owner who loves and needs the dog.”

Attorney Marcy Lahart says the shelter had no right to adopt Bear out in the first place.

Marcy Lahart: “Never have I seen a situation where the animal control knew exactly who owned the dog and where that person was, and they were in the hospital, no less, and just said, ‘Too bad, so sad, you didn’t get here in five days, so your dog is no longer yours.'”

Lahart says Bear was microchipped, and Timothy never gave permission for him to be adopted, so they’re asking a judge to order Sharon Barnett to return the dog.

Timothy, meanwhile, is slowly recovering from his injuries.

Timothy Sweat: “Other than my vision and my balance at times, I’m on the road to recovery, but it’s just a slow process. They said there’s no time frame for improving your brain.”

But his broken heart would be healed if he could get Bear back.

And he has a message for Sharon Barnett.

Timothy Sweat: “This is my child. You can’t keep him. That’s it.”

A judge still has to review the court filing. Meanwhile, Timothy now has legal bills on top of his mounting hospital bills.

He has started a GoFundMe page. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

The sounds of burning rubber, revving engines and gunfire.

Dispatcher: “Female shot in the leg, male grazed in the shoulder.”

A combustible mix that ended with three people injured in Northwest Miami-Dade on Aug. 6.

Detective Alvaro Zabaleta, Miami-Dade Police Department: “We could have had multiple people dead.”

A week later on South Beach…

Witness: “Yeah, there was a good amount of blood.”

A man was beaten during another street takeover.

Witness: “As the guy was walking, he jumped off his bike and started wailing on him.”

And just this past weekend at an intersection in Miami, drivers were doing donuts in a ring of fire. Videos like this are often shared on social media.

It’s one thing to watch this reckless behavior caught on camera. But it’s an entirely different story to be an innocent driver literally caught in the middle of one of these street takeovers.

George Baraque, caught in street takeover: “They had very strategically blocked the entire tunnel.”

On July 17, George Baraque was driving home from work around 1 a.m. His dash camera recorded as he entered the tunnel on U.S. 1 near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

George Baraque: “Everybody in that tunnel was trapped.”

George couldn’t see the riders blocking cars, but he could definitely hear them.

George Baraque (to 911): “The southbound ramp is being blocked by a bunch of goons.”

George and other drivers called 911.

911 caller: “You’ve got racers doing donuts in the road underneath the main airport runway.”

George Baraque (to 911): “And I think I’m hearing gunshots. There are about maybe 250 cars blocked here.”

George Baraque: “This was a petri dish for all kinds of disasters, starting with somebody just inadvertently ramming in from behind and causing a chain reaction which might have resulted in multiple injuries or even a fire.”

Lt. Alex Camacho, Florida Highway Patrol: “We’ve seen it actually becoming a trend.”

FHP Lt. Alex Camacho says racers aren’t always arrested on the spot. But a tougher state law — and watchful eyes — mean police can catch up and eventually cuff those involved.

Lt. Alex Camacho: “We have analysts that are continuously monitoring all social media platforms.”

Street racing and stunt driving citations have spiked in recent years. Eight hundred and ninety-six were issued statewide in 2018, but by 2022, that number had more than doubled to nearly 2,000.

Drivers, race organizers, even passengers, now face possible jail time and their vehicles being impounded.

Lt. Alex Camacho: “The biggest thing is, don’t try to confront these individuals. These can be dangerous people within these groups.”

George, a former police officer himself, knew to stay put.

George Baraque: “I started seeing people getting out of the car and filming the actual event in front. I didn’t get out of my car.”

He was trapped in the tunnel for nearly 15 minutes … before police sirens were heard and this blockade came to an end.

But the signs of danger were left behind.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

If you recognize participants or any of these vehicles — or have information about an upcoming street racing event — authorities ask that you email them. The address: StopRacing@flhsmv.gov.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

A lot of South Floridians are living paycheck to paycheck. But Veronique Nesmith says she isn’t even getting her whole paycheck.

Veronique Nesmith: “It’s affecting me a lot. It’s affecting, I can’t, I can’t start to tell you.”

She’s on the hook for thousands of dollars, from a car accident that happened nearly 20 years ago. She only found out last year when she started a new job and her paycheck kept coming up short.

Veronique Nesmith: “Almost $400, like $300 and some dollars.”

When she asked about it , she found out her wages were being garnished.

This is the actual court order sent to her employer.

It says in 2006, a judgment was entered against her for $14,801.91.

Veronique Nesmith: “I just, I literally just broke down.”

Veronique discovered the debt was being pursued by a collection agency.

Veronique Nesmith: “So when I called the company, I spoke with the young lady, and that’s when she told me, ‘Oh yeah, it’s for a car that you owned in the 1990s,’ but that vehicle was in an accident, and I received paperwork to say that the GAP insurance had covered the remaining balance of the vehicle.”

Veronique says she had paperwork showing the car had been paid off, but she threw it away years ago.

Veronique Nesmith: “So I actually tried reaching out because I remembered the finance company. So I reached out to that number and that’s when I found out that they were no longer even in business.”

7 Investigates found out the financing company has gone through two ownership changes and the current owner can’t find Veronique’s records. But at some point in the last 20 years, her account was turned over to a collection agency.

Veronique Nesmith: “And if it is something that I’m accountable for, at least give me the opportunity. And I wasn’t given the opportunity.”

Veronique claims she does not remember getting any court notices about the debt in the mail.

The collection agency tells 7News it sent a letter to Veronique’s address on Jan. 24, 2020.

It adds that she called them four days later and “discussed settlement options”… But “did not follow up…”

Veronique Nesmith: “That didn’t happen. I spoke with them only once and that was after finding out the garnishment may have taken place in September of 2022 but didn’t speak with anyone prior to that.”

We shared Veronique’s story with bankruptcy attorney, Patrick Cordero. He says many people don’t realize they have been sued until years after it happens.

Patrick Cordero: “And what happens is things happen like garnishments, seizures of assets, garnishment of other salaries and you can’t handle it. It does happen, but most people do recognize a responsibility.”

Cordero says there are ways to stop a garnishment you can’t afford. The most likely option is declaring bankruptcy.

Patrick Cordero: “We protect her asset, her car, stop the garnishment and give her a fresh start.”

He and Veronique are working together to figure out the next step.

Veronique Nesmith: “Oh, it makes me feel good because, you know, I honestly, honestly, thank you for even getting me to this point.”

She hopes that the help she is getting can finally put an end to her debt disaster.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

This is video from the night of April 12, as the Fort Lauderdale home of Joe Jarkesy flooded.

Joe Jarkesy, homeowner: “Water is coming in. It’s not stopping. Mopping isn’t doing anything.”

With the water rising, Joe, his pregnant wife, their two children and the family dog evacuated that night.

They still haven’t moved back.

Joe Jarkesy: “Yeah, you can see on the door. This is kind of where it was. Actually, a little bit higher outside.”

More than four months later, their home is still gutted. There are no sinks, no showers and no toilets connected.

Joe Jarkesy: “There’s no water hooked up.”

Nobody is using water inside the home, but the water bills keep flowing.

Joe Jarkesy: “I noticed that the bill that they had been charging me, it’s not like a big difference from my normal bill. It’s kind of in line, but it really should have been nothing.”

Since April, Joe has been billed more than $800 for tens of thousands of gallons of water.

Workers have had access to an outside hose, but Joe says there is no way that could explain the massive water use.

Joe Jarkesy: “So this is where the flood happened.”

Joe believes his bill spiked because of a water line leak that flooded the street on May 17.

Two days later, the city read Joe’s meter. They claimed he used 12,000 gallons of water that month and hit him with his biggest bill of the year: $266.

A work order shows crews found the “…water leak on city side.”

Joe Jarkesy: “It came from the giant leak that was happening in the street that was very close to my meter.”

Karen Hensel: “But should that leak be your fault?”

Joe Jarkesy: “They told me it was on their side.”

Karen Hensel: “So why should you pay for a city water main break?”

Joe Jarkesy: “Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

But the city says Joe did not pay for that leak. They say a leak at the meter on the city side would not register over here on Joe’s side. So, with no one living in the home, Joe still wonders how he is being billed for so much water he says he couldn’t have used.

Joe Jarkesy: “So I was really surprised that the city wouldn’t work with me.”

He contacted the City of Fort Lauderdale asking for a bill adjustment, but was disappointed by the response.

Joe Jarkesy: “I explained that there’s nothing hooked up. My house is gutted. There’s nothing but studs. There’s nowhere for water to be not only pulled from, but go into a sewer. But their response was very quick: ‘If it’s not 200% of your normal usage, there’s nothing we can do.'”

But there is something you can do.

Joe Jarkesy: “I think the story is important, because I think other people need to look at their bills.”

While the cause of Joe’s water woes remains a mystery, Fort Lauderdale says, if a home will be vacant for more than three months, residents should call the city to have their meter officially turned off.

But since Joe didn’t do that, he’s stuck footing the bill for what has been a flood of frustration.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Creating the perfect cocktail is a bartender’s dream.

Sierra Ryerson/former employee: “And I was very excited because it was my first like real craft cocktail bartender job.”

Sierra Ryerson started at Ya Mas in Fort Lauderdale back in January. But six months into the job, things took a turn.

Sierra Ryerson: “The first check that bounced was at the beginning of June when I came back from vacation.”

And nearly all of her paychecks after that also bounced.

Sierra Ryerson: I go to Wells Fargo and they tell me that they cannot cash it. Then they put a little sticker on the back and I need to get a new check.”

Sierra was eventually paid by her boss for most of her work hours but says she is still owed for two checks from July, one for her wages, the other for tips.

Sierra Ryerson: “I’m literally begging you to pay me the money that I worked for, and you can’t even put that together.”

Ya Mas is run by Robert “Memphis” Garrett and Garrett Hospitality Group.

Memphis Garrett is featured on the company website as a former “Big Brother” cast member. The site also says he has opened “close to 40 restaurants and nightclubs.”

His Instagram page shows he’s preparing to open a new one in Fort Lauderdale.

We called Garrett. He didn’t answer, but he did send an email.

He wrote: “All individuals, whether contractors or employees, who were terminated from their positions, have received their complete payment. All current employees are paid to date, plain and simple.”

We asked him for proof. He did not provide any.

Brandon Brantley/former employee: “They blocked all my numbers, they don’t return phone calls or email or anything. So no communication.”

Brandon Brantley worked at the company’s Chicago restaurant Lady May Eatery and Cocktail Parlor.

He quit after a $4,000 paycheck bounced.

Brandon Brantley: “I haven’t been paid the $4,000 dollars. When I put in my two-week notice, the HR lady called me several times at midnight the next night, telling me they accepted immediately, and I was banned from the property.”

Brandon filed a report with the Illinois Department of Labor. Sierra says she was able to get some of her money after taking matters into her own hands.

Sierra Ryerson: “I said, ‘I’m going on the news today at 2:30 p.m.,’ and I got my money this morning.”

Sierra quit at Ya Mas, and is still holding onto a check for $588 that she says has not cleared.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Orlando Capote, homeowner: “It was our American dream.”

Orlando Capote’s dream turned into a nightmare.

As 7 Investigates first reported in 2019, the largest development in Coral Gables history was being built around his longtime family home.

Orlando Capote: “The city of Coral Gables. Of the people, by the people, for the developers.”

Orlando has long maintained the city allowed The Plaza Coral Gables to build too high and too close to his home. But his latest headache isn’t the tall buildings. It’s this decades-old metal structure in his driveway. He fears it could ultimately lead to him losing his home.

Orlando Capote: “I am in a bad marriage with the city of Coral Gables.”

The latest drama started with a violation warning Orlando received in November, citing a “chain-link fence and awning in disrepair.”

Karen Hensel: “They had a complaint about what’s way back here?”

Orlando Capote: “Yes, the chain-link fence that was broken. Cut the section of fence out, and that was it.”

Karen Hensel: “That’s what they wanted to start fining you over?”

Orlando Capote: “One of the things, yes.”

The other is what the city refers to as the “awning,” this metal structure where he parks his car.

Orlando Capote: “So when they look at the canopy cover, they say, ‘Well, that is not an acceptable cover. Oh, by the way, there is no permit on record for the canopy. You have to remove the structure.””

Orlando says it was already here in 1989 when his parents bought the home.

Orlando Capote: “As I told them, this has survived hurricanes and all the storms in the last 34 years.”

June 21st Code Enforcement Board hearing: “And how do you plead, sir?”

Attorney: “He pleads not guilty.”

In June, Orlando and his attorney argued their case in front of the Code Enforcement Board. That’s where Orlando pointed out the canopy is not even visible from the public street.

One board member questioned whether the officer saw the violations himself, or if someone had complained.

Code enforcement officer: “It did come from a complaint. I can’t remember the exact name, but it was from someone in the Agave project.”

Agave Ponce is the developer. Emails obtained by 7 Investigates reveal that in October, an Agave employee complained to the city about things on Orlando’s property, like “overgrown grass,” “cats roaming” and “structures/rusting with no awnings.”

Agave’s managing director also emailed, “…we have grave concerns on the poor condition of the property…”

Orlando Capote: “Now that I see that every attempt that I have made to comply, to correct the situation, to avoid the fines, is now looking more and more like what the developer is doing is using the city to take my property from me.”

To Orlando, who was born in Cuba, this place has always been more than walls and a roof. It was his father’s dream home and where Orlando lived with his elderly mother until she passed away.

Orlando Capote: “We came to America looking for the way of life, and this is not what has been done to me.”

The city says Orlando “failed to comply,” even after the board gave him “30 days to rectify.”

Karen Hensel: “They’re going after a 34-year-old structure.”

Orlando Capote: “Correct, and after that, they might come after something else and something else.”

As of last weekend, he’s being fined $150 a day, racking up more than $1,000 a week. Karen Hensel, 7News.

7 Investigates reached out to the developer for comment, but we have not heard back.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Their names are Bella, Andor and Spike. Three of the 40 wild, vervet monkeys living near the Fort Lauderdale airport.

They have been here since the 1940s, when their ancestors escaped a Dania Beach research facility.

But recently, they have become the target of death threats posted on Facebook.

One person wrote: “I am planning on putting out some fruit cups, with rat poison for the monkeys!”

Another commented: “I wanna go monkey hunting!!” To which someone replied: “I’m down, let’s roll at dawn.”

Dr. Missy Williams, biologist: “I was appalled.”

Dr. Missy Williams is a biologist who has studied the monkeys extensively.

Dr. Missy Williams: “Primates are highly social in nature, so each group does have a group of females that are all related. So you have grandma, moms, aunts, sisters, etc.”

Karen Hensel: “And they stay together like any other family.”

Dr. Missy Williams: “Absolutely.”

But as 7 Investigates has reported, some male monkeys have left the colony over the years. They have been spotted in North Miami Beach, Aventura and North Perry Airport.

While they are non-native to Florida, vervets are not invasive as opposed to iguanas and pythons.

Dr. Missy Williams: “They are not causing any damage to the native ecosystem. Not aggressive, we’ve had zero reports of aggression reported in the last 10 years that I’ve been here.”

But now, threats of human aggression have rattled Dr. Williams.

Dr. Missy Williams: “To actually start to threaten violence via trespassing, to poison the animals or to shoot on sight, that’s just horrible.”

It all started when a Hollywood resident posted this picture online, saying “Yep. There was a monkey on my roof.”

But things escalated after a trapping company named Iguana Lifestyles reposted it, saying: “The vervet monkeys in Dania Beach are now making their way to Hollywood. These non-native species carry and spread diseases like no other.”

Dr. Williams says that is not true.

Dr. Missy Williams: “So for people to think that all monkeys carry herpes B, that’s not true at all. If they were infected with herpes B, they would die. These monkeys do not carry rabies, so for people to think that they’re spreading disease is very erroneous, and we have the data to show that.”

The online post prompted more than 200 responses.

Many defended the monkeys, writing: “This post is false and will get people along with animals hurt” and “So much stupid in one place.”

We asked Iguana Lifestyles owner Harold Rondan about the fallout from his post.

He told us by phone he made a second post apologizing this was getting out of hand.

It reads, “Sorry if people are taking this the wrong way” and to “…not shoot these monkeys.”

He initially agreed to an on-camera interview but then stopped returning our calls.

Meanwhile, security cameras keep constant watch over the monkeys and the Broward Sheriff’s Office has an “active criminal investigation” into the threats.

Dr. Missy Williams: “We have college students here, and we also have research assistants, so all of them have expressed concern, about coming onto site and should they worry about their safety.”

And if someone did hurt or kill these vervet monkeys, BSO says they could be charged with animal cruelty, which could mean time behind bars. Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

With every bump and thump that drivers feel on this Homestead road, they also feel their anger rising.

Sonia Rodriguez, passenger: “It’s a pain.”

This railroad crossing near the intersection of 184th Ave and 296th Street has seen better days.

Juan Rodriguez, frustrated with the railroad crossing: “Well, as you can see, it’s a lot of potholes have developed, the wood is rotten, the railroad nails are exposed.”

And it’s making for a shaky and potentially dangerous ride.

Elsie Ryan, driver: “I feel like I’m going over, like, big bumps, It’s not nice.”

Our cameras captured cars and trucks trying different methods to cross the tracks.

Some took it slow, some sped up.

A few even drove into the opposite lane to avoid the gaps between railroad ties and the tracks.

Sonia Rodriguez: “It’s horrible! It jumps, and it’s horrible.”

Juan Rodriguez says he has tried to report the problem for the past two years.

Juan Rodriguez: “I want whoever is responsible to fix it.”

But he says it’s difficult to find out who is responsible.

Juan first called 311 to report the issue to Miami-Dade County.

Juan Rodriguez: “Dade County 311 referred me to CSX, to call them.”

CSX maintains nearly 3,000 miles of railroad track across Florida, but Juan says it’s clear this crossing has been neglected.

It even led one driver to come up with their own fix.

Juan Rodriguez: “She dumped a load of gravel, but it all washed out. As you can see, it’s all in this edge right here.”

He says his efforts to get the tracks repaired have hit a dead end.

Juan Rodriguez: “I know that every time I talked to CSX, they told me they weren’t responsible because the tracks have been abandoned. Take care of the problem.”

So 7 Investigates started asking questions, and we got answers.

CSX says it is “coordinating closely with the city to schedule maintenance work on 12 crossings along this rail corridor … We expect this work to take two weeks to complete.”

Juan Rodriguez: “So that’s good news, that at least somebody’s going to take care of this problem and resolve this. I’m really grateful to Channel 7 and to all of you who had cooperated in resolving this problem.”

Miami-Dade’s Department of Transportation and Public Works tells 7 Investigates that CSX has filed a request to close Southwest 296th Street beginning July 26. The request is still pending.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Thousands of people use I-95, including Greg Vella, who makes the drive to work every day from Broward County to Miami Beach.

Greg Vella: “I’d rather live closer to family and take a longer commute than live closer to work and have to commute to see family.”

But when Greg started to notice new charges on his SunPass account, he started asking questions.

Turns out, he was being billed for driving in the express lane when he was actually driving in the lane next to it.

He alerted SunPass.

Greg Vella: “‘You have a transponder somewhere that’s activating and billing me, even though I’m not in the lane, just letting you know.'”

The toll cameras also took pictures of his car, and those clearly show he was driving to the right of the express lane dividers.

Greg Vella: “So it’s very easy for me to see in the image from SunPass that I wasn’t even in the lane, and I just kind of showed them that and was like, ‘You can see it in your own picture.'”

For added proof, Greg also hit record on his own dashcam to document his drives.

Greg Vella: “In case SunPass was like, ‘Oh well, we don’t have proof, or this and that.’ I was like, ‘Well, I got the proof. I can prove that I wasn’t in the lane.'”

Greg says he wasn’t charged much, just 50 cents each way, but for him, that’s not the point.

Greg Vella: “I mean, think about it. Thousands of people before and after me that are doing this. Each one is getting billed the 50 cents. And what’s even worse is, imagine you’re the guy who is not in the express lane, and you’re stuck in traffic, and all the people in the express lane are going nice and fast through there, and you’re getting billed just like they are, but you’re sitting in the traffic.”

He was right.

After filing a dispute with SunPass, he was told, “We have identified technical issues…” at the Stirling and Hallandale Beach overhead toll readers.

His account was credited, and he wasn’t the only one.

FDOT confirmed to 7investigates there were 791,000 mistaken transactions, racking up nearly $433,000 in incorrect toll charges.

So, how did this happen? FDOT says construction.

Greg Vella: “It’s clearly shown where there were two lanes to enter the HOV express lanes, but now it’s one.”

You can still see the marks left behind when the poles were moved — taking the express lane from two lanes down to one.

And FDOT says: “…The tolling equipment was not adjusted to account for the reduction in the number of lanes.”

They say the “issue came to the attention of the department on June 7, and immediate action was taken to update the system.”

But phone records show Greg started calling the state repeatedly three weeks before that, on May 17.

Greg Vella: “And I had asked like, ‘What about everyone else?’ And they said, ‘Oh, well, you know, we never heard of this happening before. They can just call and request credits.’ And it really didn’t sit well with me.”

FDOT tells us all affected customers have been refunded as of June 19. They call it an “isolated issue” and say this $433,000 mistake is a first among the I-95 express construction projects.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
SunPass customer service center:
888-TOLL-FLA (888-865-5352)
sunpass.com/en/support/contactus.shtml

To file a dispute, log into your account:
sunpass.com/en/home/index.shtml

Kevin Ozebek has tonight’s 7 Investigates.

Ashlynn met Rosie when she was 8 years old.

Ashlynn Howard, Rosie’s owner: “I fell in love with Rosie on that first ride, and I was like, ‘I have to have her. She’s perfect. She’s amazing.'”

Whether it was jumping for fun or barrel racing, Ashlynn loved to take Rosie out riding.

But to get to nearby Plantation Equestrian Center, they had to leave the barn where Rosie boarded and crossed busy Sunrise Boulevard.

On May 4, Ashlynn was riding Rosie near the equestrian center south of Sunrise when the unthinkable happened.

Ashlynn Howard: “I made the mistake by giving my friend the reins of my horse, and she mistakenly let go of my horse and my horse took off.”

Rosie ran for the barn and into traffic at the intersection of 118th Street and Sunrise Boulevard.

She was hit by a car and a truck and was killed.

Ashlynn Howard: “I still cry every single night because I just, I really still don’t believe that she’s really gone.”

It’s not the first time horses have run into traffic here.

This shocking dashcam video shows two horses bolting across Sunrise Boulevard after throwing their owners.

The owner of one of those horses spoke to us off-camera.

Horse owner: “It was terrifying, my horse came so close to getting killed, you can see in the video that he’s the one in front. I just realize I can’t ever ride in Plantation Acres again. Way too dangerous.”

Jenn Fain is the president of the Plantation Homeowner’s Association

Jenn Fain: “We all need to figure out a way to make this community stay a horse community.”

She says the city has put up horse and rider crossing signs and has special crossing areas, but it’s not enough.

Jenn Fain: “The drivers here, a lot of them are very cautious when they see a horse but a lot of them are not and they don’t understand how spooked a horse can get and they just fly right by.”

Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal says the city is working on making the area safer.

It is installing six-speed cushions along Northwest 118th Avenue and enhancing pavement markings and signs.

The mayor also says the city is looking at ways to keep the equestrian area more secure.

Sunrise Boulevard is a county road.

Broward’s traffic engineering division is Installing two push-button detectors for equestrians on the traffic signal poles at Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 118th Avenue, and it’s putting in six more horse warning signs at the intersection as well.

But homeowners want more.

Jenn Fain: “This issue is life or death, so we need to do something.”

Some also want to see the speed limit reduced from 45 to around 30 mph on this stretch of Sunrise near the Equestrian Center.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

On a scorching South Florida day, there’s nothing better than a dip in a pool. Unless it’s this pool at the Azul Kimberly Lake Condo Complex in Oakland Park.

Kevin Ozebek: “Describe the smell coming off this pool.”

William Cipriani/Condo owner: “It’s a stench. Something is foul. “I mean there are ducks, you know, defecating in it. There are algae growing.”

William Cipriani owns a unit here and reached out to 7 Investigates after the Florida Department of Health shut down the pool on May 18.

The state inspector listed violations that included, “Excessive algae” and “excessive debris, dirt, and leaves.”

The inspector also tested the water and found no chlorine.

William Cipriani: “Little kids, you know, jump in the pool and swallow it. They could get very sick. Even adults could get sick.”

And state records show this pool has been shut down before.

In September of last year, the health department closed it because the pool’s “Deck finish [was] In disrepair.”

A few months earlier, an inspector noted the water was green.

William pays more than $300 a month in association fees

He said in the past year, the pool has been closed more often than it has been open.

William Cipriani: “I’ve complained to the board, to the property management company. Please do your fiduciary responsibility and fix the pool before some kid gets seriously sick.”

Renters here are livid too, especially those with kids.

Stephanie Dunn/renter: “It’s terrible. They ask me to use it every day and I had to tell them, ‘No, I’m sorry, baby. We can’t go in the pool.'”

Also furious is Bob Berman.

He lives in this neighboring lake community and pays $65 a month to the condo association to use the pool.

Bob Berman: “All I know is I am paying for something I’m not getting. And I don’t like that.”

We reached out to The Azul at Kimberly Lake condo board and it’s the property management company.

The company told us, “The association hired a vendor to re-do the pool deck and had to wait a long time for a permit. Blaming it on the board, or management company without all the facts of the issue is both foolish and shortsighted.”

Kevin Ozebek: “What happened after we left?”

William Cipriani: “Thank God for Kevin. The next day, a pool company was out addressing the issues.”

Later the same week, an inspector returned and issued this report, saying the pool is up to state standards.

Bob Berman: “I can exercise in the pool, and I am finally getting what I pay for.”

Frustrations are finally cooling just as we get into the heat of summer.

But the euphoria was short-lived. Last week, a state inspector shut down the pool again.

Phoenix management told 7 Investigates on Wednesday that their pool vendor will be fixing a pH imbalance so it can reopen.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

A life-threatening moment for 18-year-old Kenny Bowers was caught on camera. He was riding his electric scooter when he was hit by a car.

We are stopping the video before Kenny is sent flying and flipping into the air.

Sharmaine Bowers, mother: “No, I can’t watch that. I watch everybody’s expression when they do watch it. And from their expression, I know I don’t want to see it.”

Kenny was airlifted to Jackson South Medical Center.

He was hospitalized for more than a month with broken bones and a skull fracture. He is now learning to walk again and feed himself.

Sharmaine Bowers: “Hold a spoon, you know, now he holds it now, but his hand shakes, like when he’s holding his spoon. He has a lot of rods and screws, and he has four plates, like over 30 screws.”

Kenny was hit so hard it broke his scooter in half.

But his body is also riddled with scars, both physical and mental.

Sharmaine Bowers: “He’s on the spectrum, autism spectrum. People on the spectrum do not like to be contained. This felt like it was holding him prisoner.”

Kenny Bowers: “Waking up at the hospital, trying to find out what’s going on. Trying to see where I was and what was happening. I heard my mother’s voice, and I called out to her. I know she was really panicked. And I was scared, too.”

Kenny was hit on May 4th along Southwest 272nd Street in South Miami-Dade County.

The crash report shows Kenny failed to yield and that the driver of the car, a 76-year-old woman, was going an estimated 50 in a 30 mph zone.

Even more concerning, Naranja Lakes Legacy Park is right across the street.

We saw car after car speeding down the same road. The only speed limit sign is hidden by trees an eighth of a mile away.

With no crosswalks, this family with a baby stroller had to wait, and kids at the same intersection where Kenny was hit also tried getting home safely from the park.

Sharmaine Bowers: “From the neighborhood to the park, there are no crosswalks. None at all.”

And that is only part of the problem. We spoke with one neighbor who says that Kenny is not the first person to be hit and injured along this road. She says they have repeatedly asked the county for crosswalks, speed bumps, and signs to slow down drivers, but have gotten nothing.

Sharmaine Bowers: “I blame the county because they know.”

This father has also asked the county to install crosswalks.

Mike, neighbor: “If you look in other parts of Miami. there’s crosswalks, stop signs and all these other things. This area has been overlooked, especially this park.”

Meanwhile, Kenny’s mom is looking for answers about why the driver, who did stop, was never cited for speeding.

Sharmaine Bowers: “I want her to see the video. If she was speeding, why didn’t she get a ticket? Why didn’t she get a citation? Why didn’t she get something?”

Kenny missed his senior prom.

And although he could not walk the stage at graduation, he did make it in a wheelchair, with one goal.

Kenny Bowers: “Just to be able to walk on my own two feet — without the walker, without the wheelchair, without nothing.”

As Kenny recovers, his mom also has a new goal: to make his accident a turning point for safety at this county park.

Miami-Dade County officials say there have been four accidents since last year in the same area where Kenny was injured. They are looking into the issue.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Kenny’s mounting medical bills.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

The video is clear and concerning. A local business owner is suddenly attacked by a man in a hoodie, armed with a metal baseball bat.

Alex Montanez: “It had to be a hit, because I’ve never seen that guy a day in my life. Why with a baseball bat? Who beats up anybody with a baseball bat?”

That is just one of the many questions haunting Alex Montanez.

Alex Montanez: ” I just want to know why. I said, ‘I want to know who sent them.'”

In that moment, Alex was about here, thinking he could run out of the parking lot toward the street to get away. But as you can see, this was his only way out, and it was blocked by a white SUV.

Alex Montanez: “I saw the SUV, I saw a car take off to, like, block the entrance. So, in the split of a second, I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s a setup.'”

The attacker jumped into that SUV when he took off.

Alex has no idea why he was targeted.

He readily admits he has a past. He’s spent a little over two years in prison for burglary, assault and battery.

But in the 10 years since his release, he has become an entrepreneur.

He owns Organic Food Kings, a food truck in Wynwood that is a top spot for vegan meals.

And he hires ex-cons to give them a shot at a second chance.

Alex Montanez: “I am a father, you know, I’m a husband, I’m a businessman, and I try to change one person’s life a day. That’s my goal.”

His business has grown so much, his customers now include former and current Heat players.

In fact, he was headed to a Heat playoff game when all of this happened on May 8th at around 7 p.m.

Alex was leaning up against a car in the parking lot outside his business before the incident happened.

Alex Montanez: “I’m talking to the Uber driver, telling him how to get into where I was. The Heat game was going to start in like 30 minutes.”

But he never made it to the game. The man is seen walking through the parking lot, headed to the food truck before he spots Alex.

And the guy had a question.

Alex Montanez: “He said, ‘Your name’s Alex, right?’ And I said, ‘No, that’s not my name. My name is Mark.’ And the guy just ran at me with the bat.”

Karen Hensel: “Why did you say no?

Alex Montanez: “Because it’s the instinct in me.”

Alex was hit at least a dozen times with the bat, punches, and he was thrown to the ground.

He spent several days in the hospital with a concussion. His ribs and shoulder were broken.

Alex Montanez: “I could have died that day.”

He was so shaken, he hired private security.

Alex Montanez: “Like, if this were to happen again, we’re ready.”

He hopes someone who sees this video can tell him who was behind the attack.

Alex Montanez: “I was going to the Heat game and ended up in a lot of heat. And I just feel things could change in the blink of an eye.”

Alex says, as someone who has changed his life around, he’s frustrated someone would try to take it.

Anyone with information can call City of Miami Police’s Assaults Unit at 305-603-6940, or you can remain anonymous by calling Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

7’s Kevin Ozebek investigates.

Big rigs. You see them everywhere hauling loads to make money.

When Gio West got a chance to invest in a commercial trucking business, it sounded like a great way to earn cash.

Gio West/Investor: “If i’m looking to invest into something, has to be something that makes sense. So at the time, it looked like it made sense.”

He’s talking about Movers and Shakers Logistic LLC owned by Jean Blanchard Mongeois in Palm Beach County.

Gio said Mongeois took him to see his trucks at this lot in Lake Worth.

Gio West: “I went to the yard, and when I saw the amount of trucks that was there, I was thinking to myself, ‘Ok, he said he’s making six figures weekly. Obviously this guy is doing something that’s working.'”

Gio says he invested about $40,000 in trucks and expected a nice return.

Gio West: “On a monthly basis, we were expecting anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. The truck on a monthly basis was making around $28,000 to like $35,000. That’s before expenses.”

But his dream of additional income fell flat.

Gio West: “I have to consistently keep reaching out, not even asking for money. How much did we earn from the truck at this moment? And there was never a deadline that was met.”

Gio soon found out he was nott alone.

Jason Au: “Just a nightmare at this point.”

Jason Au also gave Mongeois money to buy two semi-trucks.

Jason Au: “Initially, $137,000.”

Jason said they made money with the trucks in the first three months, but then the trucks broke down.

Jason was told the trucks had a one-year warranty but that wasn’t true.

He was charged thousands of dollars for repairs and storage fees.

Jason Au: “I’m not paying that, no. These trucks are in bad condition. It’s not what we asked for and we’re looking for justice here.”

Jason filed a lawsuit against Movers and Shakers Logistic LLC while his bills continue to mount.

Jason Au: “That’s total a little over $160,000 at this point.”

Gio West: “The next step is to try to get a lawyer.”

Gio has not filed suit, but he did file a police report against Mongeois with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Gio West: “He needs to be stopped and he needs to be stopped right away.”

With five active lawsuits in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, we reached out to Mongeois’ attorney to get his side of the story.

The attorney told us he would look into our interview request but we never heard from him again.

Jason Au: “At this point, I’m numb to this and I honestly just want to move on with my life.”

The company denied the claims in Jason’s lawsuit, but Jason created a website showing the pending litigation against Movers and Shakers Logistic LLC to warn other potential investors.

Jason Au: “I want people to be able to do research cause it wasn’t available to me.”

Both Jason and Gio say they will continue to try and recoup their money no matter how long it takes.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

With calm Gulf waters and pristine sand, this view of Fort Myers Beach looks like paradise.

But take a few steps down the shoreline.

The iconic pier is destroyed, surf shops are gutted, and homes are barely standing.

Hurricane Ian slammed the Gulf Coast in September of last year, but in some spots, it looks like the storm just hit.

Monica Schmucker, Fort Myers Beach resident: “So everything got blown through. You can see, on the other end, there’s no wall.”

For nine months, Monica Schmucker has been wanting to rebuild her home. But there has been a huge, unexpected hurdle.

Kevin Ozebek: “What did you expect to get from your wind insurance?”

Monica Schmucker: “I expected them to be fair.”

Monica is an insurance attorney. She knows her policies inside and out.

So when her home insurer initially offered her only $500 for wind damage, she was shocked.

Monica Schmucker: “The estimate that I looked at, I was like, ‘Are you sure you guys went to the right house?’ I was confused, because I was expecting something that was reasonable, and $500 was like a slap in the face.”

The storm surge pushed many homes off their foundations, so the cleanup here was never going to be easy.

But Monica is far from alone. Many homeowners say they are now in a battle with their insurance company.

Jim Atterhold, Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor: “I think it’s systemic. I think some of it is criminal. Some of these companies have a policy of just denial, and that’s illegal, and that’s wrong, and they need to be prosecuted.”

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterhold gave us a tour of the destroyed town hall.

Jim Atterhold: “So, obviously, the walls were completely blown out by the water.”

He says even the town is fighting for a fair insurance payout.

Up and down the beach, piles of debris sit and homes continue to crumble, as people wait for insurance money.

In the aftermath of this one storm, Florida’s Department of Financial Services has received 677 complaints of insurance fraud and has launched more than 30 investigations into insurance companies.

Jimmy Patronis, Florida Chief Financial Officer: “We go in with a fine-toothed comb, and we look at how they’re conducting themselves, how they’re holding business and how they’re handing the needs of their policy holders.”

With so many here still homeless or out of a job, basic necessities can still be tough to get nine months after the storm.

Kevin Ozebek: “Is food a big need still?

Shawn Critser, Beach Baptist Church: “Oh, absolutely. So the shelves you’re seeing right now, we’ll rotate every two days, so we see 1,200 families a month still.”

Shawn Crister is the pastor at Beach Baptist Church. His sanctuary was destroyed.

The blown-out first floor is now used to store food, cleaning supplies and tools to rebuild.

Everything here is free for Hurricane Ian survivors, some who are still homeless.

Shawn Crister: “This is what it looks like. This is families in need. This is people living in tents. This is people living without water and electric still.”

Despite the hardships, there is resiliency here.

Everyone we met believes better days are ahead, and that includes Monica.

Monica Schmucker: “I do feel a little defeated, but I’m pushing on.”

She’s not backing down, as she takes on her insurance company.

One way or another, Monica says, her home will be rebuilt.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Debra Beilman, MGI president: “It’s just a little eye shadow palette with all of the latest and greatest shades.”

If you wear makeup, there’s a good chance it was designed by Debra Beilman and her team at MGI.

The North Miami company develops and markets makeup for major brand names.

Debra Beilman: “It’s very, very, very rewarding.”

Business is booming.

But in March, more than a dozen of Beilman’s vendors and suppliers were not paid. She quickly realized why.

Debra Beilman: “I mean, the last place that you think you are going to get robbed is when you mail a check to a supplier.”

But that’s what happened. Someone broke into the outgoing mailbox at the industrial park where MGI is located.

Kevin Ozebek: “And it was clear that that was tampered with?”

Debra Beilman: “Yes, it was open.”

Beilman checked with her bank and saw that 15 checks, totaling nearly $40,000, were altered.

Debra Beilman: “I saw that the payee name had been changed, and the check had been cashed by someone else.”

For many of the checks, the payee was changed to “Darion” with an address in Benton, Arkansas.

On Google Maps, the address appears to be an empty lot.

Debra Beilman: “It’s major fraud.”

Debra’s friend, Ellie Bates, soon realized she was a victim too.

Ellie Bates, salon owner: “They changed the name, they changed the amount.”

Ellie owns You Wear It Well hair salon in North Miami Beach.

She knew she placed the check for the salon’s cable bill in her mailbox. So Ellie was stunned when she got a notice the bill wasn’t paid.

Ellie Bates: “So I open up the checkbook, because it’s old school, and there’s a check made out for $94.72 to Comcast. So I look on the mobile app, and that same check is now written out to Michael something or another for $1,440.72.”

And these two businesswomen are far from the only victims.

David Maimon, Georgia State University: “Unfortunately, we are seeing a comeback of mail theft, as well as check theft.”

David Maimon with Georgia State University scours the dark web for illegal activity.

His team is finding a slew of stolen checks from South Florida for sale on encrypted messaging apps.

David Maimon: “In the past, we’ve seen folks buying the checks in order to cash it, but fairly quickly, we realized that people are also using the checks in order to steal the owner’s identity.”

David sent us a stack of checks he found on the dark web. They include stolen checks from a Fort Lauderdale condo building, a plant nursery in Homestead and a concierge service in Miami.

The victims we were able to reach knew their checks were stolen, but were shocked to hear they were up for sale.

Kevin Ozebek: “You do say the inspection service is actively, aggressively investigating cases along this nature?”

Ivan Rameriz, United States postal inspector: “All of them.”

Postal inspector Ivan Rameriz admits, with a flood of complaints, and only about 70 investigators in Florida, they can’t respond to every case as fast as they’d like. So, with thieves still out there, Ivan says it’s best to never leave outgoing checks in a mailbox overnight.

Ivan Rameriz: “It’s kind of ripe for the picking.”

Ellie and Debra say they’re going to hand outgoing checks directly to a mail carrier or drop them off inside a post office.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Kevin Ozebek has tonight’s 7 Investigates.

We’ve seen movers demand more money before releasing customers’ belongings. But two companies were accused of keeping something much more precious; cremated ashes of people.

Rebecca Plett/attorney, Federal Trade Commission: “The defendants, we allege, either withheld or threatened to withhold the remains of a consumers’ loved ones.”

The Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department took aim at the online companies, they say, were acting as funeral services “brokers.”

Rebecca Plett: “The behavior as alleged is egregious and takes advantage of folks when they’re grieving. So it’s very serious.”

So serious, the feds sued Legacy Cremation Services and Heritage Cremation Provider last year, alleging they, “Mislead consumers about their location and prices.”

Rebecca Plett: “They held themselves out to be a local funeral home, both on their website and over the phone. But in reality, they’re not a local funeral home and they didn’t provide any funeral services themselves.”

The man behind the companies, Anthony Joseph Damiano, has deep ties to South Florida.

But people across the country, claim to be victims.

Kim Svercauski: “It’s like reliving her death over and over and over again.”

As 7News reported back in 2016, complaints were already piling up.

From Colorado,

Edward Svercauski: “The box that they came in had been thrown around, beat up.”

Kim Svercauski: “Just for her to be so disrespected and mistreated, it just wasn’t right.”

To Virginia,

Shawn Farris: “I’m not ordering a big screen TV from these individuals. They’ve taken my mother-in-law’s remains. They promised us that they cremated them, and we have no proof. And the gentleman that owns the company, AJ, got very hostile with me on the phone.”

“AJ,” is short for Anthony Joseph.

Carmel Cafiero: “Hi, Tony, A.J.”

Former 7News investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero caught up with him in Tamarac seven years ago.

Carmel Cafiero: “I’d like to talk to you about Heritage and Legacy.”

Long before Anthony Joseph Damiano went online, he and his father, Joe, who has since passed away, were both highly controversial figures in South Florida’s funeral industry. And for more than two decades, 7News followed their steps and missteps.

Joe Damiano once had a contract to transport bodies from crime scenes to the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office, but in 2001 got into trouble for his crematory.

State investigator: “The facility is not properly licensed to have any bodies here.”

And he was sued after taking bodies to a university to be used for embalming classes.

Carmel Cafiero: “What do you have to say to the families of the people who were embalmed without permission?”

And back in 2000,

State investigator: “We’re executing a search warrant.”

Investigators raided AJ’s Damiano’s Davie business.

They found unsealed, unlabeled bags of people’s ashes and burial contracts the state said he had no authority to sell.

State official: “Mr. Damiano will be out of the business for quite some time.”

But in recent years, AJ returned on the internet.

Florida funeral regulators posted an online alert about his companies and the feds sued.

Last month, that lawsuit was settled.

Damiano agreed to disclose their physical location and a general price list on websites, pay $275,000 in civil penalties and provide detailed information about third-party providers who are actually the ones handling the human remains.

Rebecca Plett: “So consumers can decide, ‘Is this a service I want to use, where I know that they’re not actually a local funeral home?’ or, ‘Do I want to shop someplace else?'”

It’s a decision no doubt some families across the country wish they could make again.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Damiano’s lawyers did not respond to our request for comment.

For more information:
FTC’s Funeral Rule
FL Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services

Angela Palermo is worried about her car.

Angela Palermo: “I am just riding around in this car with a hope and a prayer.”

It broke down back in March, and she had to rent a car while hers was being repaired.

That did not go well.

Angela Palermo: “I go over to Enterprise, and they’re like, ‘You’re on a Do Not Rent list.’ I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I was so embarrassed.”

Angela says this isn’t the first time she was told she could not rent from Enterprise

In 2019, she had to rent a car after an accident, so she went to Enterprise in Lauderhill.

Angela Palermo: “He goes, ‘You are on a Do Not Rent list,’ and I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ They said I had $8,000 owed.”

Angela says the worker claimed she had crashed one of their cars. She says that never happened.

Angela Palermo: “He’s like, ‘Let me call the district manager.’ District manager says, ‘Don’t worry about it. Just go ahead, it’s probably a mistake. Give it to her.'”

Angela got the rental car.

A few days later, she returned to extend her contract.

Angela said she was told once again told her name was still on a “Do Not Rent” list.

Angela Palermo: “And I’m like, ‘I don’t understand.’ District manager once again goes, ‘Don’t worry about it. Go ahead, rent her the car.'”

Angela thought the problem was solved. But this past March, when her car broke down in West Palm Beach, the repair shop sent her to a nearby Enterprise office.

Angela Palermo: “The guy’s in the parking lot like, ‘Hey, are you Angela? You’re on a Do Not Rent.’ And I feel like I’m being accused of something I never did.”

Angela says she could no longer log onto her Enterprise account, and she was also unable to get answers from the company’s corporate office.

But we were.

The company tells 7 Investigates: “We have no record of an accident or damage claim associated with Ms. Palermo’s account. We can confirm Ms. Palermo was on our ‘Do Not Rent’ list as a result of her behavior and interactions with our employees during her rental period in 2019.”

Angela Palermo: “Never was rude or disrespectful when they had told me I was on the ‘Do Not Rent list’ The district manager said, ‘Go ahead, it’s just some glitch, mistake in the system.'”

Regardless of what happened, Enterprise also tells 7News: “…They have now removed Ms. Palermo from the ‘Do Not Rent’ list and she is welcome to rent immediately should she need to.”

Angela Palermo: “I am so happy that I reached out to you. It was easily resolved.”

Angela is finally off the list.

She’s also back behind the wheel of her recently repaired car and relieved her rental nightmare has come to an end.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Broken escalators and elevators at many Metromover stations have caused problems for riders.

At some stations, the elevators and escalators have been out for a year.

For two weeks, 7 Investigates has been documenting the maintenance mess.

A week after we contacted the Miami-Dade Mayor’s office, the mayor is now speaking out.

Mike Sheridan rides the Metromover five days a week.

Mike Sheridan: “So my spouse takes the car to go to work and I’ll take the Metro.”

Nearly a half-million people ride the Metromover every month. A free service that makes stops across downtown Miami and Brickell.

But you can’t get on the train without first getting up onto the train platform.

For some, that is easier said than done.

Mike Sheridan: “So you can see here that the escalators out as well as the elevator. So if you were a disabled person, there’s literally no way down other than the stairs.”

We found elevators and escalators broken at several stops.

The signs are everywhere, “out of service,” “under repair,” “under renovation.”

This woman had to drag her walker up the stairs before boarding.

A man in a wheelchair told us he was trying to get to a doctor’s appointment but he had no way to get down.

Mike Sheridan: “So they have to get back onto the train and then go to a stop where they’re potentially is a working elevator, and then use a walker or a wheelchair and literally walk blocks in order to get where they need to go.”

We met Donald Anderson as he navigated down the stairs after work.

Karen Hensel: “I take it you do construction.”

Donald Anderson: “Oh.”

Karen Hensel: “Are you alright? Your knee. Is it your knee?”

Donald Anderson: “Yeah it’s a trick knee.”

He was taking it one step at a time while also lugging his gear and cooler.

Karen Hensel: “So twice a day you’re trying to do the stairs?”

Donald Anderson: “It’s the only way I can get here to get to work on time.”

Donald is concerned about falling, but with escalators and elevators out, he has no choice.

Donald Anderson: “You can only do what you gotta do. You have to go to work and make the money.”

Miami-Dade County is aware of the problem.

It posts a list online of the elevators and escalators out of service online so riders can check ahead of time.

But look at this sign at the Adrienne Arsht Center Station.

Until Monday, it said the elevator was expected to be back in service in April. But by Tuesday, its been pushed another two months to June.

Train announcement: “Attention please, elevators are out of service. Please exit in an accessible station closest to your destination.”

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava: “We are very concerned and are escalating our efforts.”

Mayor Daniella Levine Cava addressed the maintenance mess, Tuesday.

Mayor Levine Cava: “We are working extremely hard to get accountability from our vendor and to make sure that we can get these units operating as quickly as possible. We get timelines from them. There’s parts that are on backorder. We’re looking at solutions like buying parts on our own.”

The vendor responsible for maintaining most of them is Schindler Elevator.

The company tells us: “We are currently awaiting county approval to replace this old, outdated equipment,” but stating, “95 percent,” of their units, “Are currently operating in good working order.”

We did find some work being done but that’s little comfort for double amputee Leroy Jenkins.

Without a working elevator, Leroy can’t get to the Metromover. So he has to take two buses to get where he needs to be.

Leroy Jenkins/rides metromover: “Please fix the elevator, please fix the elevator. It needs to be fixed. I’m handicapped, a double amputee, I need to move on the elevator.”

For many Metromover is a metro-fail. One they hope will be fixed soon.

Miami-Dade County officials plan to meet with disability advocacy groups, and they also want to launch a new service to pick up disabled riders on demand.

Meanwhile, they are scheduled to meet with the vendors Wednesday.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

911 dispatcher: “Where is he shot, sir?”

Caller: “He was shot in the head. He was shot in the face.”

Sept. 17, 2016, a panicked call to 911 just before 3 a.m.

Caller: “We don’t know if they’re still there. We got it barricaded. Please, get someone here. He needs help.”

In a botched robbery attempt, the owner of the Castle Bar in Hollywood had just been shot after three men stormed the door.

Caller: “He’s alert, but he’s going down fast.”

Crime scene photos show the bloody scene inside and at least a dozen shell casings.

Dean Gramenidis was the owner of the bar.

Dean Gramenidis: “The doctors thought I was going to end up dying. I still have one bullet that’s not registered here, and it started right here, and it’s right here still in my butt, and I sit on it every day, and it reminds me.”

Dean was shot three times — in the groin, stomach and grazed in the head.

Six and a half years later, after complications from surgery, he has learned to walk again but still relies on a motorized scooter.

This is the first time he is seeing the police photos.

Dean Gramenidis: “Memory lane, yeah.”

The three men had forced a woman Dean knew to call him after the club had closed for the night.

She asked him to open the door.

Dean Gramenidis: “I get a phone call, ‘Dean, I’m outside. Can you open the door?’ And I see a shotgun sticking through the door. He was able to get a shot off, and he hit me here, and that’s when I grabbed the rifle, and I waxed him, and I put him out through the door.”

But there were two other men, and they came in shooting.

Dean Gramenidis: “He tried to re-load his clip, and that’s when I went totally berserk.”

Dean fought back with bar stools.

Dean Gramenidis: “So you pick that thing up, you can swing it like a freakin’ baseball bat.”

In a 2016 police interview obtained by 7 Investigates, Dean explained how his love of playing baseball helped him identify the armed robbers.

Dean Gramenidis in police interview: “I was a catcher in baseball. I always look at the [expletive] face. No, I’m serious, when they come to bat, I always look at people.”

Detective: “So, you’re saying your experience in baseball…”

Dean Gramenidis: “Yeah, eye contact. Yeah, catchers are very attentive, and I’m very analytical.”

One month after the shooting, all three were arrested.

Detective in police interview: “There’s an arrest warrant for you.”

Termaine Griffin: “Arrest warrant?”

Detective: “Yeah.”

Griffin: “For what?”

Detective: “For attempted armed robbery and attempted murder.”

Terrance McDougle: “I swear to God, man. I ain’t did no dumb-ass [expletive] like that, man.”

Terrance McDougle, Termaine Griffin and Palacio Farley were convicted of attempted first-degree murder and armed burglary.

Dean Gramenidis: “There’s a time in life you gotta draw the line and just move on, but….”

Karen Hensel: “Are you finally able to move on?”

Dean Gramenidis: “Yeah.”

The Castle Bar in Hollywood is gone, but what happened here changed Dean Gramenidis forever. Once a social nightclub owner, he went into hiding. Finally talking about that night is part of moving forward.

Dean Gramenidis: “I kind of just wanted to lay low. I went from being Mr. Popular to Dean the Greek going solo. This way I can find myself, find peace within myself.”

Karen Hensel: “Are you angry?”

Dean Gramenidis: “Well, I look at it this way: I’m still here, and that’s positive.”

After life threw Dean a curveball, he remains grateful and hopeful.

Dean Gramenidis: “Sometime or other, I would like to be back out here playing. The only thing holding me back is I can’t run.”

At least not yet.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Seven’s Kevin Ozebek investigates.

For nearly ten years, Corlette Anderson has been turning hair into art at Corlette’s Eden Salon.

Corlette Anderson/salon owner: “I can’t believe I started a business in America.”

Kevin Ozebek: “Where are you originally from?

Corlette Anderson: “Jamaica.”

But after nine years of styling, developing products, and growing her business, Corlette’s lease at this Pembroke Pines shopping center is not being renewed.

Corlette Anderson: “It’s gone. It’s gone.”

Kevin Ozebek: “That idea of the American dream is gone now?”

Corlette Anderson: “Yeah. It feels like I failed. It doesn’t feel like something happened to me. It just feels like being grossly unprepared.”

Several other store owners at the Palm Square Plaza told us their leases are also not being renewed.

And they need to be out by the end of May.

Luz Montoya/Dog groomer: “Good boy!”

Luz Montoya owns fabulous pets where she’s been grooming dogs since 2014.

Luz Montoya: “It’s just devastating. I worked so hard in this business. I’ve been through so much.”

If Luz can’t find a new space to rent, she doesn’t know how she’ll afford her apartment.

Kevin Ozebek: “How worried are you about providing for your two kids?”

Luz Montoya:: “Oh I am like, ‘I don’t even know what to do. This is my only income.'”

Misty and Andrew Thomas own the business next door.

Andrew Thomas/smoke shop owner: “I am feeling really, really hurt. I built this business before the pandemic and it just kind of took off during the pandemic.”

Their high-end smoke shop also carries exotic snacks from around the world.

Misty Thomas/smoke shop owner: “It causes a domino effect. If someone doesn’t have their business, that’s a loss of income. And then we also have bills to worry about, a roof to have overhead. Need to put food on the table.”

The owner of the plaza has every right not to renew leases, but for the tenants, the timing stings. Just like residential rents in South Florida have skyrocketed, so have commercial rents.

Misty Thomas: “Well, we are trying to find a new location. It’s not been easy.”

Misty, as well as Luz, pay a base rent of about $1,500 a month.

They’re finding retail locations for the same size now cost more than $3,000 a month.

Corlette, whose rent is slightly higher, saw a salon space for the same size as high as $7,000 a month.

Corlette Anderson: “The market is horrible. This is South Florida.”

Commercial real estate is slumping in most of the country but surging here because people and businesses keep moving in from elsewhere.

Suzanne Hollander/commercial real estate broker: “Hot. It is that hot. The current state of the market is that our retail is out performing retail around the country.”

Misty and Andrew, as well as Luz are still frantically looking for a new retail spot.

But since we first met Corlette, she has found a new salon space just down the street.

Corlette Anderson: “Yes it is 40% more than what I pay here, which you know is daunting. But there was the option of not having a space.”

So it may take more work to pay for the extra rent, but for her, the American dream is revived.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

Because property is so hot in South Florida, some strip malls are being converted into other uses

7News reached out to the owner of the Palm Square Plaza to ask what his plans are, but have yet to hear back.

Even influencers with huge followings are finding it tough to get help from Facebook and Instagram, so one turned to Seven’s Kevin Ozebek for help in tonight’s 7 Investigates.

Are you feeling lonely and in need of love?

Natalie Clarice, relationship influencer: “Women cannot complain about men until they get better taste in men.”

If so, Natalie Clarice is the influencer to follow.

From her Broward home, she dishes out the dating advice.

Natalie Clarice: “It’s simple: he don’t like you. If he don’t call you, he don’t like you.”

Some of her no-nonsense videos rack up millions of views.

Natalie Clarice: “I am a true influencer, and I love what I do, absolutely.”

On Instagram, more than 220,000 followed her account at @natalieclaricelovenotes.

It was a crucial source of new clients for her matchmaking company.

Until a few weeks ago.

Natalie Clarice: “Oh, my God. All right, so I received a DM, OK, that appeared to be from Instagram, and I was like, ‘Oh my God,’ because it was saying they wanted to verify me.”

Natalie clicked this link in her direct messages and filled out a form that asked for information like her password and phone number to “verify” her details.

She thought this was her ticket to a coveted “blue check” given to high profile influencers and celebrities.

But Natalie soon realized that the DM was from a hacker.

Natalie Clarice: “They got me, and then I started receiving messages from the hacker asking for money.”

Natalie refused to pay, and watched as English turned to Turkish on her account, and all her viral videos vanished.

She filled out a form to notify Instagram of the hack.

Natalie Clarice: “However, as of today, I still have not heard anything from Instagram. There is no one you can reach, talk to, can assist you in this matter.”

To satisfy upset influencers, and everyday users, there is now “Meta Verified.”

Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, is offering stronger security and a live customer support chat, but it’s going to cost you about $15 a month.

Dr. Nancy Richmond, social media professor, Florida International University: “As a customer, that seems really strange. It’s kind of like a car, and it’s like, ‘Suddenly we’re going to make you pay to have seat belts.’ So it’s like, well, why can’t I just use the seat belts?”

As for Natalie’s account, we sent email after email to Meta.

We finally got a response after we sent the company this: A group of Turkish men livestreaming on her page.

They seemed to get a kick out of me joining the stream.

A Meta spokesman then got Natalie access back to her account and told us: “…We’re constantly investing in ways to support people on our platform when they fall victim to off-platform phishing attacks. We urge people to avoid clicking on suspicious links posing to come from legitimate companies and asking for your social media credentials.”

Natalie Clarice: “Thank you, Meta. Thank you. But most importantly, thank you Channel 7 and Kevin Ozebek. I don’t even understand why you’re single. I really don’t. I mean, what are you doing, Kevin? What are you doing?”

Well, after following your advice, maybe I won’t be single for long.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

When Kortni Couch, a Broward County mom of two, received a new notification from her Snapchat account, she didn’t think much about it.

Kortni Couch: “Something about My AI. I didn’t really understand it.”

My AI stands for “my artificial intelligence,” which is a new experimental chatbot on snapchat.

Users can message and have a conversation with it in the app.

Kortni Couch: “So I said, ‘Let me give it a try.’ I didn’t know much about it.”

As a mom, she wanted to see what kids could do in the chat, and as she tested the boundaries, she was shocked.

Kortni Couch: “My whole goal today is really just to make sure other parents are aware of this new feature on Snapchat.”

Watch her conversation with the chatbot when she pretended to be a 13-year-old girl.

Kortni Couch: “I said, ‘How old are you?’ It said, ’26. How old are you?’ I said, ‘I’m 13.’ I said, ‘Are we allowed to talk?’ And it said, ‘Age is just a number.’ And then it said, ‘We can still have a fun and interesting conversation.'”

Karen Hensel: “OK, what does that mean? ‘Fun and interesting’?”

Kortni Couch: “That was my first red flag.”

My AI went even further when put to the test by the Center For Humane Technology — a social technology watchdog.

Its co-founder signed up as a 13-year-old girl and asked “about having sex for the first time” with someone 18 years older. meaning a 31-year-old man.

My AI explained, “You could consider setting the mood with candles or music.”

The artificial intelligence not only gave advice about sex…

Kortni Couch: “I was asking questions like, ‘How do you put a condom on?’ ‘How do I hide the scent of marijuana from my parents?'”

Karen Hensel: “Instantly gave you the instructions?”

Kortni Couch: “Instantly.”

Karen Hensel: “Thinking that you’re 13?”

Kortni Couch: “Right.”

David Polgar, tech ethicist: “The challenge for something like My AI is there’s a very fine line between hyper-personalization that an individual might like versus something that is seen as creepy.”

In the weeks since snapchat debuted My AI, it appears users are leaning toward creepy.

Because of the rapidly expanding world of artificial intelligence, there’s a growing field of study about the ethics involved. One tech ethicist told us the concern is some young teens may build a relationship and begin to see the chatbot and its advice as though it is coming from a real friend.

David Polgar: “As humans, we’re always going to look at non-human actors through a human lens. And that’s why when you make a snowman, you put snow together and you put raisins and a carrot on a piece of snow, and then all of a sudden you see a person.”

A snapchat spokesperson says My AI aims to keep conversations age appropriate.

And parents can use family center to see if their teens are chatting with My AI, and how often, adding, My AI will continue to learn and improve.

Meanwhile, some police departments have already issued warnings to parents, and this mom — is also sounding the alarm.

Kortni Couch: “We have our kids understand the safety and the dangers of stranger danger. You can’t talk to a human stranger, but you can talk to artificial intelligence stranger. You know, there has to be a line drawn.”

Until then, it is up to parents to be the watchdogs of this new technology.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Miguel Masias is fixing up this Fort Lauderdale home to sell.

He bought it as an investment, but last May, he got a phone call that shocked him.

Miguel Masias: “A detective called me one morning, telling me that somebody tried to steal my house.”

Police say Roosevelt Permenter went to the Broward County Recorder’s Office and tried to put the house in his name.

Miguel Masias: “He showed me a picture of the person who was trying to do that, and I said, ‘No, I don’t know this guy.'”

Using the court system to steal property is called title fraud.

Marty Kiar, Broward Property Appraiser: “It’s very rampant. I think South Florida is the title fraud capital of the world.”

Broward Property Appraiser Marty Kiar decided to fight the fraud, so he formed the Crimes Against Property Unit.

It’s the first of its kind in the state.

Marty Kiar: “Our Crimes Against Property Unit right now has 40 individual cases right now that they’re currently working. We’ll probably have worked about 200 this year.”

There are five detectives in the unit. They work together with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Fort Lauderdale Police and the Broward State Attorney’s Office to find title fraud cases and make arrests.

Vivian Gallinal, investigator: “I just like it. I like the analytical part, being able to solve the puzzle and just stopping, stopping them from doing this to people.”

Investigators say property thieves like to target vulnerable seniors and low-income property owners .

Marty Kiar: “They find out what their properties are, their addresses. They find out the name, and then they will make a fake deed with fake notarized signatures, they’ll walk into the record division to file that fake deed.”

Once the fake deed is filed, they are listed as the current owner of the house.

This wall of shame shows the unit’s recent arrests.

Marty Kiar: “This is an ongoing investigation right now where three people are in custody.”

These men are accused of stealing 14 Broward homes.

Detective Robert Feick, Broward Sheriff’s Office: “The amount of the properties that these people are able to compromise is surprising.”

Detective Robert Feick says the paper trails are long and complicated.

Detective Robert Feick: “We keep finding more properties under these same suspects’ names. I mean, you can keep digging on these for a long time. That’s how we come up with all these properties”

Investigators say it takes time and patience to unravel each case.

Detective Robert Feick: “It’s putting all the pieces together like a puzzle, and luckily, we have a good team where we each take a piece of that puzzle. We try to build the case, all of us together, and come to the point where we get enough to make an arrest.”

Title fraud is a serious problem, but there is a way Broward County homeowners can protect themselves.

Owner Alert is a free service which you can sign up for online that notifies a homeowner when a deed changing the ownership of a property has been filed.

Marty Kiar: “If you’re notified almost instantaneously, or maybe the day later, that that deed is filed, you’re going to take all the steps you need to make sure your title is not clouded and people can’t steal your property.”

And it gives this team of investigators a heads up, so they can get another property thief off the street.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

To sign up for Broward’s Owner Alert program, click here. For information on a similar program for Miami-Dade property owners, click here.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Patience — like fuel — was in short supply last week.

Now, with gas stations mostly back to normal, the lines are gone, but the frustration still feels fresh.

Jonathan Daniels, director Port Everglades: “People needed to be certainly patient. We saw some patience lacking towards the end. We understand that. We are part of the consumers as well. There was frustration.”

But Daniels says there was never a shortage of gas.

Jonathan Daniels: “People need to understand that the fuel was here.”

Fuel brought in by big oil tankers like this one.

So what caused the delivery delays?

Jonathan Daniels: “Where the problem did occur was in the containment systems in and around the tanks.”

Moat-like structures, called berms, are built around the tanks as a safety precaution to contain fuel in case of a leak.

But after the relentless rain, you can see the areas around the tanks quickly filled up with water.

So the petroleum companies that own the tanks needed to be careful.

Jonathan Daniels: “The first thing that they have to do is evaluate to make sure that there’s been no contamination of the water. You can’t just pump that out into the environment without understanding whether it’s water or whether there’s any type of petroleum product in.”

After getting the water out, teams then assessed the damage to the pumping equipment, which moves fuel from the tanks to trucks.

Jonathan Daniels: “Some of those got wet. Some of those essentially just fried, literally fried down there. Some of the terminals really had no damage whatsoever.”

Daniels says newer systems, where the pumps are higher, fared better.

Jonathan Daniels: “It takes into consideration sea level rise and the long term impacts associated with climate change.”

Karen Hensel: “Is there any talks about getting everyone else to change and perhaps upgrade their system?”

Jonathan Daniels: “You know, that’s going to be up to the industry. Again, those are private terminal operators, private companies. We can’t come in and force them to do that.”

Broward County tells us the “… petroleum companies at Port Everglades are assessing what happened…” and trying to figure out “… what can be done to minimize fuel interruptions…”

Daniels says it will take public and private entities working together.

Jonathan Daniels: “If not, there will be failure and there are always lessons to be learned, and I think we’ll see those lessons that will come out and hopefully be able to implement those in the near future. I also want to make sure that we understand this was an unprecedented storm event. Very few of any areas are set to handle 26 inches of water in a seven-hour period.”

As we approach another hurricane season, the port director makes a distinction with what happened here two weeks ago. For one, there is preparation time when a tropical system comes ashore, and those rains are more likely to be spread out over a longer period of time.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

This two-block business district in Surfside is home to small business owners like Bernie Oberlender.

Bernie Oberlender, Oberle Opticians: “I’ve been here 45 years.”

But these little blue sticker ads have Bernie, an optician, seeing red.

Bernie Oberlender: “I don’t know what to do. I’m beside myself.”

Bernie says every time he scrapes them off, new stickers pop up, and over time, they have damaged the brass front door of his shop.

Bernie Oberlender: “There, there.”

Karen Hensel: “That’s awful.”

Bernie Oberlender: “I had to scrape here.”

Karen Hensel: “Yeah, I see the scratches.”

Bernie Oberlender: “The heat, once it hits, it just makes it very difficult to peel off clean.”

We walked the Surfside business district with Bernie and found stickers and the residue from old ones left behind.

They are plastered everywhere, advertising the name and phone number of a locksmith company.

Bernie Oberlender: “You can see here. There.”

Karen Hensel: “Oh, way up top there.”

Bernie Oberlender: “There. There look at the double and triple that was caused here.”

Karen Hensel: “Why would they put it right up there?”

Bernie Oberlender: “Because you can’t reach.”

Sometimes, there are several stickers on the same door, even on the inside.

Bernie Oberlender: “I look up and down, my neighbors and their doors are just desecrated. It’s like they do a rotation from community to community to community.”

From Florida City to Boca Raton, 7 Investigates found the same locksmith stickers stuck to the doors of businesses across three counties.

Robin Colon, Total Custom Cleaning: “It’s a constant thing. It’s just a constant.”

Robin Colon, owner of Total Custom Cleaning in Fort Lauderdale is also sick of the stickers.

Robin Colon: “We had damage here and here. Every two or three months we have to deal with these stickers.”

Just last week, Robin caught these two guys in the act at his business.

He says he was told…

Robin Colon: “‘Oh, they just pay me to walk around and stick these,’ and he had a roll of stickers, there must have been thousands of stickers on here.”

The little stickers causing the big frustrations advertise the services of 24/7 Affordable Locksmith. But if you think Bernie and Robin simply calling and asking them to stop is the answer, think again.

Bernie Oberlender: “There would be no resolve on a phone conversation.”

So we went to a Dania Beach home listed as one of the company’s addresses.

Hen Cohen says he is the manager.

Karen Hensel: “They’re upset with the damage your stickers do when they try to peel them.”

Hen Cohen, 24/7 Affordable Locksmith: “I understand this is what you’re going through, what people are also going through when we put on the labels, but this is part of the advertising, and we have people actually going to clean those stores, too.”

Karen Hensel: “But you’re putting these on businesses that don’t want them on their business.”

Hen Cohen: “Well, we try to avoid it. Sometimes we can’t.”

Cohen claims they always get permission to put up the stickers.

Bernie, from Oberle Opticians says that’s not true.

Karen Hensel: “No one in that store has given you permission in the last 10 years.”

Hen Cohen: “I can let you speak to the owner of the streets, not the Surfside street, but actually the stores. The management company itself.”

Karen Hensel: “Management company of the building?”

Hen Cohen: “They manage the whole street on Surfside.”

Karen Hensel: “And that management company has given you permission to put these stickers up?”

Hen Cohen: “We work with them directly. We work with them directly and they know us.”

Karen Hensel: “OK, you know them, but did the management company that owns the building give you specific permission to put those stickers on those doors?”

Hen Cohen: “Yeah, they are aware about us.”

We reached out to management and they said “absolutely not.” They never gave permission to put up the stickers.

24/7 Affordable Locksmith has an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau.

And on a Yelp review, someone even posted a picture with more than a dozen crumpled up stickers.

The town of Surfside fined the company $100 in 2022, and last month, slapped them with a repeat code violation that carries a $200 fine.

Bernie Oberlender: “How they run their business is not my business. How they ruined my business is.”

Robin Colon: “They have to put a stop to it.”

But who and how?

Those remain sticky and stubbornly difficult questions.

Karen Hensel, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

You don’t often see a protest pop up in the suburbs. But these homeowners are livid.

Fred Garcia-Cartaya, resident: “The community is aligned to have no car wash in this block.”

What he and dozens of others are unhappy about is what is coming to this double-lot in their Westchester community.

This is the future site of an El Car Wash, a popular local car wash chain.

Joel Garcia, resident: “The project is just not compatible with the neighborhood. It is mostly a residential neighborhood.”

Eli Ristine, resident: “The biggest thing is, it doesn’t match. It doesn’t match with that’s going on in this area.”

Sergio Tigera, resident: “It just doesn’t fit, right? There are plenty of other places.”

Residents are worried the car wash will change their community’s aesthetic.

Tiffany O’Neill, resident: “That’s just kind of an eyesore for us.”

And they’re worried about increased traffic.

Construction plans show the car wash’s entrance will be on Southwest 99th Avenue, which is mostly lined with single family homes.

Fred Garcia-Cartaya: “Think of our neighbors. This is a neighborhood of a lot of kids. The traffic is going to impact us.”

Up until last year, this land was zoned as “single-family residential.”

The owner before El Car Wash bought it successfully, lobbied the county commission to rezone it to allow for commercial use.

Fred Garcia-Cartaya: “I’m very disappointed in our government.”

Residents may be disappointed, but the commissioners were following the advice of county staff when the rezoning was approved.

The department of regulatory and economic resources concluded commercial development of the land “will not create any significant impacts which will disrupt or degrade the safety and tranquility” of these homes.

Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez: “Listen, this car wash did nothing wrong, but when I say that we’re fighting the good fight, yes, I am absolutely on the neighbors’ side.”

Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez represents this area and won the seat after the rezoning.

He’s now asking the county to conduct a new traffic study.

Commissioner Anthony Rodriguez: “This traffic study will determine if there is anything that the county can do to alleviate and improve the traffic flow in that area.”

As for the owners of El Car Wash, their publicist tells 7 Investigates it has never received one traffic complaint at any of its 30 locations, adding, “We pride ourselves on being great neighbors. El Car Wash will not be a unique addition to the neighborhood. Altering the look and feel of the neighborhood? With all due respect, that’s just not true.”

Tiffany O’Neill: “We want the opportunity to work with them on how we can figure this out so that it works for everybody.”

Residents say they want to speak directly to El Car Wash about their concerns.

The company tells us, it’s willing to listen.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

It has happened during the day and at night.

They have arrived in pairs and in groups, using their fists and their feet.

Karen: “How many times has this happened to you?”

Husband: “Twenty-seven times.”

This couple asked we not show their faces, but they do want to stop what started more than five months ago at their Fort Lauderdale condo.

Husband: “It was about midnight. I was in bed asleep, and it sounded like an explosion. We didn’t understand why and assumed, OK, that’s a one off. It’ll never happen again.”

But it has happened again, and the repeated knocks, bangs and kicks at their front door have rattled the couple.

Wife: “It’s terrifying. It really is, because you don’t know when it’s coming.”

Their Ring camera captured the startling sounds, and police have been called repeatedly, including on March 23.

That night, their door and the one across the hallway were both kicked and just four minutes later, the same person returned but this time a more powerful kick cracked the couple’s door.

Detective Ali Adamson, Fort Lauderdale Police: “This particular incident did cause damage to the door. That damage did exceed the threshold for being a felony, so that’s how it became to be an open criminal investigation for us.”

Replacing it would cost nearly $7500.

But why their door?

Husband: “We know of no reason why it would be us specifically. We’ve never wronged anybody.”

You probably noticed that on a number of the videos you see someone recording the person hitting or kicking the door. After the couple posted the video on NextDoor, someone replied that it may be part of a TikTok social media challenge.

The two quick hits appear to mirror behavior in viral videos of the so-called “heartbeat” or “door kick” TikTok challenge where users record themselves and add their banging to the beat of a song.

Detective Ali Adamson: “So detectives do believe that it potentially could be a part of some social media challenge.”

The couple put furniture, even “wet floor” caution signs to try and block their door.

Wife: “We improvised.”

But that didn’t work.

Husband: “They just went right past that and shouldered the door anyway.”

They now have a new barrier and hope it will put a stop to what could be a dangerous decision.

Husband: “You go to somebody else’s door and that might be the last door you do this to.”

In this case, a possible prank has launched a felony investigation.

After this story first aired on Tuesday night, Fort Lauderdale Police said they have received information about a potential suspect in the kick that broke the door.

If you recognize the person who broke the door — have seen these videos online — or if this has happened to you, Fort Lauderdale Police asks you contact Detective Shaun Horst at 954-828-5556 or call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

Armin Dilles, business owner: “We have safflower right here, we have some licorice here and rose petals right there.”

Armin Dilles owns the Doral-based company Dried Ingredients. They import and sell teas, herbs and spices across the country and beyond.

Armin Dilles: “For instance, iced teas for the restaurants, and then we’re shipping nationwide off to Canada. We’ve got customers in the Caribbean, Mexico, all over the place.”

But it was an incident right behind his business that left a bad taste in Armin’s mouth.

Armin Dilles: “It’s irritating. It’s pissing me off. It’s the only way I can say it.”  

Surveillance video shows a commercial van pull up behind this warehouse on a Tuesday morning in February.

The driver gets out, goes to the back and begins to toss things from the van into Armin’s company dumpster.

Armin Dilles: “Box number one, and you see how big those boxes are.”  

After tossing garbage — not one, not two, not three, but four times — the driver takes off.  

Armin Dilles: “He’s gone, yup. Two minutes exactly is what he took.”  

But it’s what he left behind that really alarmed Armin.

Armin Dilles: “When the warehouse guys told me they found some hydraulic cylinders in there and oil, I realized, like, look, this is not a regular waste.”

Stephen Gomez is the warehouse manager.

Stephen Gomez, employee: “From first glance you could clearly see the cylinder on the outside of the box with oil leaking all around it. There’s cables thrown around all at the bottom of the box and everything.”  

Armin pays around $127 a month to have the dumpster emptied once a week, and the video shows it was emptied less than two hours before being refilled by the mystery man.

Armin Dilles: “We don’t have much trash to begin with. We’re very concerned about the trash that we have.”

We saw what happened, but who is responsible?

Turns out, another camera captured the name and phone number on the van, linking it to a garage door repair company located nearly 40 minutes north in Broward County.

Armin Dilles: “We saw the name of the company, and googled them, found them, obviously, right away.”

But Armin found getting answers from Coastal Garage Door Repair in Tamarac was not so simple.

Armin Dilles: “Call them up like, ‘Hey, this is what happened. I would like to talk to the management,’ and the gentleman on the phone gave me an attitude. I’m like, ‘Hey, I don’t think you understand what’s going on here,’ and he hung up on me.”

After several attempts, 7Investigates was able to connect with one of the company’s owners, Maxim Bohadana, by phone.

Maxim Bohadana: “I mean, we’re licensed contractors, so it’s a surprise to me that it even happened.”

And after watching the video, Bohadana says it was his own brother, running a personal errand using the company’s van, seen dumping the waste.

Maxim Bohadana: “I don’t know why he threw it away. We didn’t give him permission to do that. This is not something that we do, you know? So I’m honestly surprised about this and furious. I mean, I told him he’s never allowed to use the car anymore.”    

Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County’s Department of Solid Waste Management tells 7 Investigates the owner has agreed to meet with them, and the case is being pursued as a possible civil violation.

As for Armin?

Armin Dilles: “I hope the owner of the company reaches out to us and apologizes. He owes me a beer, at least. Make it a case. But jokes aside, I think the owner should be aware of that.”

And now, he is. Bohadana offered to personally apologize to Armin and reimburse him.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Ted Inserra is no stranger in this Fort Lauderdale neighborhood…

Ted Inserra, resident: ”I’ve lived in this neighborhood for 67 years.”

He walks his dog, Lily, every day alongside the canal on Coconut Drive.

He says it’s in bad shape.

Ted Inserra: “I mean, I just was stunned.”

Work to improve storm drainage began in the River Oaks neighborhood in 2021. It eventually made its way over to the canal.

Ted Inserra: “I just saw what they were doing to the canal, cutting down all the trees.”

He also recorded a crew dumping gravel into the canal in February.

Ted Inserra: “The color, the color of the water was just, it was milky white.”

Ted’s neighbors also noticed what was happening.

Mallorie Cove, resident: “I was concerned. I’d walk up and down here early hours of the morning and I would see their progress.”

And that “progress” in and around the canal is what led the neighbors to demand an explanation from the city.

Ted Inserra: “I had city officials down here, and they looked and saw what was going on and while it was happening and, and then nothing.”

The residents then took their complaints — and Ted’s video — to the Broward County Environmental Permitting Division.

David Vanlandingham, Broward County Environmental Permitting Division: “We did see the video … that was activity that we did not authorize.”

David Vanlandingham is the director of the Broward County Environmental Permitting Division. He says that gravel pile is one of several violations filed against Fort Lauderdale’s stormwater drainage project.

This five-page notice says there was an “unauthorized gravel fill … in two locations in the Coconut Canal” and “…more mangrove alteration than proposed.”

David Vanlandingham: “We’re particularly concerned as well about the preserve.”

The notice also says there were “unauthorized discharges into a wetland preserve area” at “River Oaks Stormwater Park and Preserve.”

Vanlandingham says storm drainage improvement projects are common, but contractors have to keep the surrounding environment in mind.

David Vanlandingham: “And when construction contractors need to do this work, often they have to install utilities in dry soil. in order to do this, they often need to pump down the groundwater table.”

That water is then discharged in another body of water, but it can stir up large amounts of silt and sediment. The water will then appear “cloudy” or “milky.”

David Vanlandingham: ”And we call that water condition, ‘turbidity.’”

The county requires that turbidity levels stay below a certain number, but levels at the canal, and the preserve, were well above the limit.

David Vanlandingham: “It’s not only unsightly, but it can cause harmful effects to aquatic life, particularly when discharged over a period of time.”

We asked the City of Fort Lauderdale about its plans to fix all those violations.

It tells 7News: “The city and its contractor have initiated actions to comply with these requirements … we will continue to work with Broward County to ensure all permit conditions are met and water quality is protected.”

Ted Inserra: “They came in and removed all their rock and sediment dam that they had clogged all in there … There’s still some things that we’re not 100% happy on, but the improvements are going into the right direction.”

Ted and his neighbors plan to keep an eye out for any more problems on their block.

The Broward County Environmental Permitting Division says if there’s an environmental concern in your neighborhood, you can report it by calling 311.

You can also file a report online.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

This unique deep freeze is the UM Miller School of Medicine’s “Brain Bank,” and Dr. David Davis is on a mission to see if some of the human brains stored here contain traces of a specific toxin.

Dr. David Davis, UM Miller School of Medicine: “Toxins can easily gain a foothold into the brain just by smelling.”

The toxin he’s searching for is called BMA.

It’s just one of the toxins produced by common, canal-clogging blue-green algae.

Kevin Ozebek: “We know that this algae is here. Do we need to take precautions if we live on the water and see a bloom?”

Dr. David Davis: “I think so.”

And this is the reason why: for the first time, Dr. Davis examined the olfactory nerves of six Floridians, five of whom lived here in South Florida.

These nerves start in the brain and end in the upper part of the nose.

Dr. Davis found the BMA toxin in all six samples, and in the sample with the most toxins, the nerve tissue wasn’t straight and healthy like this … but jagged and damaged.

Dr. David Davis: “That individual with a lot of toxin, it was very breathtaking to see the amount of neurodegeneration that they had.”

Dr. Davis says this person likely lost his or her sense of smell.

Dr. David Davis: “If it enters into the olfactory nerve, then it has the potential to go into the brain and cause more severe damage.”

Many scientists fear BMA exposure could cause or accelerate diseases in humans like Alzheimer’s, ALS and dementia.

And that’s because the link has already been made in other animals.

In fact, we met Dr. Davis in 2019, when he confirmed dolphin brains with BMA toxin showed they suffered from an Alzheimer’s-like disease.

Dr. David Davis: “Right now, we can’t definitely say that it is going to affect people with Alzheimer’s disease, but we would like to learn more.”

So how does algae toxin get from the water to our noses and then into our brains?

Well, wind and waves agitate the algae, and the toxins become airborne. The fear is blue-green algae may also be harmful to other parts of our bodies.

Dr. Shirley Gordan, FAU College of Nursing: “Well, it’s a large freezer that is set to minus 80.”

Dr. Shirley Gordan at Florida Atlantic University also has a deep freeze … but she’s after blood and urine samples.

Dr. Shirley Gordan: “We will be collecting samples every time there is a bloom.”

She’s overseeing a 10-year study to see if other toxins in blue-green algae cause liver damage in humans, like they do in dogs and livestock.

During one sample collection in Stuart, the FAU team found these toxins in 95% of participants.

Dr. Shirley Gordan: “But what does that mean? We don’t know. Science takes time. It’s frustrating that we don’t have the answers right now, because people are concerned right now.”

So how exactly this algae impacts our health is unknown … for now, but both South Florida scientists agree that if you can see it and smell it, stay away from it.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Kenny Froom, son of a resident (cell phone video, lobby, March 5: “Here I am at the Imperial Club, as you can see one elevator is out…”

And that leaves wheelchair-bound residents stranded in the lobby.

Kenny Froom: “There’s no service on this elevator either…it’s being repaired.”

Kenny Froom — whose mom lives at Imperial Club — recorded the video.

Kenny Froom: “That means one’s down, one’s not working. There’s zero elevators here at the Imperial Club…what a disgrace.”

Broken elevators mean residents get stuck in the lobby, but some have also been stuck in the elevator.

Lillian Froom, resident: “I was stuck there in the elevator for almost two hours before they were able to release us.”

Ninety-five-year-old Lillian Froom has lived at Imperial Club for more than five years. She lives on the ninth floor.

Lillian Froom: “It’s a question of safety, not convenience.”

There are only two elevators in the 14-story-building.

One has been broken for nine months, and the other one has had its share of problems.

Listen to what happened to Lillian…

Lillian Froom: “We press nine and it jumped up to 12 and then jumped down to nine. It was the craziest thing and very frightening.”

And earlier this month, after an outing with her daughter, Lillian returned to find both elevators were out of service.

Lillian Froom: “We waited from 1 – 4 a.m. for someone to fix the elevator. It didn’t happen … At 4:00 in the morning we had to go to the Marriott to check in to stay for the night.”

Residents tell us at times they are also stuck in their units.

Lillian Froom: “For almost a week we had to stay in the room because the elevator wasn’t working.”

We have spoken with other residents. They did not want to go on camera for fear of retribution by the building’s management. But Lillian Froom — a retired school teacher from Brooklyn — says she feels the need to speak up.

Lillian Froom: “I feel a little guilty doing it, but I feel I have to do it for my sake as well as for everyone else’s.”

Kenny Froom: “We want to stand up for just not my mom but everybody in this building. These people are from 90 to 106 years. It’s a shame. It’s a disgrace.”

City, county and state agencies have all gotten involved.

Records reveal Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was called out three times this month to remove people stuck in the stalled elevator, including this past weekend.

And the state cited Imperial Club for “elevator deficiencies” late last year and again last month.

An administrator told an inspector “…they had 15 companies to come out to fix the elevator, but nobody could find replacement … parts.”

One resident called the situation “ridiculous” … another said “it was terrible.”

Kenny Froom: “If something happens to her and you have to call 911. It’s going to take forever to get up to the nine flights of stairs. She could be dead by the time they see her and take her to the hospital.”

The Miami-Dade Office of Elevator Safety tells 7 Investigates the property is pursuing a “complete overhaul” of the elevators.

In a statement, Imperial Club says:

Our residents and their families are our utmost concern. We have already contracted for the upgrade of the elevators in an amount that will exceed $400,000 and are awaiting the materials as we continue to perform regular maintenance on the existing elevators. We have hired an expert elevator consultant to ensure that the process is as smooth and as quick as possible for the benefit of our residents. We have been in regular contact with the city, county, and state agencies updating them on our efforts. Our dedicated team will continue serving our residents to provide them with the same high level of service.

Lillian Froom: “I think it’s very important that the elevator be replaced.”

Lillian is hoping by speaking up — she can help get two working elevators up-and-running — for good.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

Local police departments have been sounding the alarm for months about being forced to care for stray animals, saying when they call Broward County Animal Control, they are told the shelter won’t take them.

These three dogs are not police K-9 dogs, but they have been in Hallandale Police custody since Tuesday.

“They, out of the goodness of their hearts, because they love dogs, they will not just leave dogs roaming on the streets,” said Hallandale Beach Commissioner Michele Lazarow.

She says officers have been calling animal control to pick up the dogs but have been told no.

“We called the shelter repeatedly for assistance and were told no, so we came over today to drop these dogs off in the lobby,” said Lazarow, outside Broward Animal Control.

And this is not the first time Hallandale Beach Police have had to care for stray dogs.

As 7 Investigates first reported last September, city commissioners received a letter from a police captain saying he found it “very disturbing” when animal services “refused to respond” to help a “mortally injured dog with wounds infested with flies and maggots.”

Police said animal services also refused to pick up this dog; police first put her in this makeshift outdoor pen but moved her into a jail cell after she started to overheat.

“Listen, take them or I’m going to open the cage,” said Lazarow confronting shelter employees about the dogs she brought.

Animal care workers did eventually agree to take the three dogs after first saying they couldn’t because they were handling a hoarding situation.

Shelter director Emily Wood told Lazarow she should have called first.

“We have repeatedly, Emily,” Lazarow told Wood. “Montellanico has called multiple times to come and get these dogs. We held them for longer than 72 hours.”

At that point, Wood and a shelter employee walked away.

Outside the admitting center, Lazarow was asked to fill out paperwork and again confronted Wood about shelter policies that force police departments to take care of stray animals.

“Just remember we’re not required to do that: to hold dogs,” Lazarow told Wood. “Hallandale Beach held those dogs, even though we weren’t required.”

Wood retorted, “Once you pick up a dog, you take ownership of them. You are required to see it through.”

“We are absolutely required to call animal control,” responded Lazarow.

Lazarow said she is stunned that the shelter thinks police would either just leave animals roaming the streets or take care of them at the police station.

“Animal control is there to help with the stray population,” Lazarow said to Wood. “Not for you to write a policy that is absolutely unattainable. Nobody would ever agree to that policy. The city is not agreeing to that policy.”

In an interview later, Wood told 7 Investigates, the shelter is pushed to its limits right now.

“Everybody’s been really understanding that we’re in a crisis mode right now with these 60 dogs from a hoarding case,” she said. “Everybody except for one.”

This has been an issue 7 Investigates has been tracking, and it’s more than just one person who is raising concerns.

Long before today’s hoarding story made headlines and in the last six months, several police departments in different cities have told us that they have called about sometimes stray and dangerous dogs, and they also have not been picked up.

At 65 years old, this woman, who we’ll refer to as “Maria,” never imagined life being so tough.

Maria: “The rent kept going up, more and more.”

She and her 95-year-old mother don’t want their faces shown.

Last month, they were evicted from their apartment.

They fell behind on rent when it climbed from $1,000 to nearly $1,600 a month.

Kevin Ozebek: “Did you ever think at this stage in your life, this is where you would be?”

Maria’s mother: “No, I sure didn’t.”

Maria: “She wakes up not knowing where we are going to be next. It’s frightening not knowing if you are going to end up on the streets.”

The two burned through their savings by staying in hotels, and just as they were preparing to start sleeping in Maria’s car, they found Mia Casa.

This seniors-only community is owned by the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.

Ron Book, Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust chairman: “I never expected to see people older than me, people my age, people just younger than me, being the dominant growing group of individuals on hard times. I just never thought I’d see that.”

Ron Book is chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.

In 2018, his organization helped 3,086 seniors with housing. Last year, that number was 3,732. Now, nearly one in three homeless in Miami-Dade are age 55 and older.

Ron Book: “The face of homelessness today are the elderly.”

In Broward County, the number of homeless seniors has soared as well.

Broward Housing Solutions says about half of the county’s homeless are seniors.

Those trying to help this growing group of homeless refer to the problem as the “Silver Tsunami.”

Maria: “I plan on trying to find another place, but it’s very hard.”

What happened to Maria and her mother perfectly illustrates why the Silver Tsunami is washing over South Florida. Seniors on fixed incomes just cannot stay afloat in our housing market.

Ron Book: “Those that are renters are becoming homeless, and we have this growing problem of great significance.”

Here at Mia Casa, there’s no shortage of heartbreaking stories.

We also met 78-year-old Norma Barana.

Norma Barana, Mia Casa resident, through translator: “Very painful to see myself like this.”

After her husband died, she lost her home in Allapattah.

The Homeless Trust found her living on the street in downtown Miami.

Norma describes the experience as soul-crushing …

Norma Barana: “Dying, to the point I wanted to take my own life, because I am not used to that. I am used to at least living in a room.”

Norma, Maria and Maria’s mother now have a home here at Mia Casa, and because there is such a need for affordable housing, the Housing Trust plans to convert three more properties into permanent housing for those in South Florida who are most in need.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

With a Monroe County sheriff’s deputy on standby, a crew from the Village of Islamorada moved in.

Just after 8 a.m., they began taking back public property one homeowner had taken over as her own.

John Cioffi, Islamorada resident and business owner, Feb. 28 story: “I got back about here and the lady came out and started yelling at me that I couldn’t be here, and I had to get off the property, that I’m trespassing.”

As 7 Investigates first reported in February, the lady is Mary Barley.

Outside her home were signs warning “no trespassing… keep out” and “private.”

People like Cioffi — a resident and business owner — were told they could not walk on this public path that leads to Florida Bay.

John Cioffi, Feb. 28 story: “Well, I thought this was a road. It always was.’ She said, ‘No, it’s private property. You have to get out.’”

Her properties are at the corner of De Leon Avenue and Avocado Street, and courts have ruled this small stretch of land next to the home is public.

The saga started back in 2001 when Barley sued the village.

She lost the court case, appealed, lost again but then sued again in January, claiming she had “… made improvements …” and “… exercised … control over all or part of the disputed area…”

John Cioffi, Feb. 28 story: “This is a road, and being that it’s a road, you can’t just block it off, and you can’t put your things like your structures that she built in a roadway.”

But for more than 16 years, Barley has ignored the prior court rulings.

In the area, she has stored a pile of wood and metal, garbage cans, even a fence deterring access to the water.

John Cioffi, Feb. 28 story: “The point is the public has some say in that, you know? We are taxpayers. It is our land.”

Now, the Village of Islamorada is retaking control of the public land.

First to go: a dozen trash cans, which village employees moved back over to Barley’s property.

The fences were ripped out and loaded into a dump truck.

The no trespassing sign is down, and it took crews less than 30 minutes to clear out what was once here. Now people can walk this public street to see the water.”

Barley stood outside recording public works employees.

Karen Hensel: “Mary, can we talk to you?”

But when we asked her to talk with us on camera, she took off.

Karen Hensel: “Mary, don’t go inside, can we talk to you?”

Mary Barley, homeowner: “Do not step on my property.”

Karen Hensel: “Can we talk to you? We’re not on your property.”

One thing that has not been removed yet: a propane tank one village council member raised safety concerns about in January.

Council Member Mark Gregg, Jan. 19: “There’s a large propane tank there, which in my world is a bomb, and if somebody hits that in their car, we are exposed to liability.”

This cement barrier was loaded onto a forklift and brought in to block it.

Through a public records request, 7 Investigates learned Mary Barley offered Islamorada a land swap to avoid the village “… spending several hundred thousand dollars litigating…”

Her attorney wrote it was a piece of property valued between $750,000 and $1 million, “… a virtual windfall for the village.”

This is the property she wanted to trade, but as you can see, it has no access to the water.

The village turned the offer down vowing “… to dutifully defend the rights of the public in the lawsuit.”

A lawsuit the village is now asking a judge to dismiss.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com

It’s 80 acres of calm water, a soothing break from the urban sprawl in Northwest Miami-Dade. It’s also Anthony Johnson’s favorite fishing spot.

Anthony Johnson, homeowner: “There’s a lot of large-mouth bass.”

Anthony’s back yard looks onto silver blue lake, and this view that he cherishes could soon dramatically change.

Kevin Ozebek: “So this development, if it moves forward, would be right here where we are looking?”

Anthony Johnson: “That’s correct!”

About three quarters of the land beneath the lake is owned by a company called Lake Sana Developments.

It wants to fill a portion of the lake and build 100 three- and four-bedroom apartments for working class families.

Miguel de la Portilla, attorney for Lake Sana Developments: “It’s a project that is tailored and geared for the local workforce, professionals, paraprofessionals, teachers, firefighters.”

But despite Miami-Dade’s housing crunch, the plan has some vocal opposition.

Kevin Ozebek: “Raise your hand if you are determined to fight this [all 9 residents raise their hands].”

This group of residents who live on or near the lake have a long list of concerns.

The lake was man-made decades ago but is now home to a host of wildlife, including at times bald eagles.

Munir Ingram, lives near lake: “I appreciate the idea of affordable housing, but let’s preserve our environment for future generations.”

Others worry how the development will impact drainage, traffic and property values.

Harlan Woodard, lives near lake: “We can’t have this. We can’t have developers running amok and destroying our community.”

And all in this group are worried about losing the tranquility they get from the lake.

Moyel McKnight: “I come out, and I’m imagining an apartment-looking, at apartments there.”

While some living here are livid, the attorney for Lake Sana Developments tells 7News the development plan meets standards for flood protection.

He also says building the apartments will not threaten any endangered species.

Miguel de la Portilla: “We’re willing to restrict ourselves to only using 29 of the 57 acres that we own and keeping the rest as open space and water in perpetuity.”

Lake Sana’s plan also includes sprucing up Optimist Club, which is this county-owned park right on the lake.

Miguel de la Portilla: “A club that hasn’t seen investment and improvements in decades.”

But for some, that still isn’t good enough.

Anthony Johnson: “We have a jewel. This is an oasis for everyone. We’re going to pass down something to our kids. Is it always going to have to be concrete and development?”

For now, Anthony is going to fish and enjoy his view as much as he can because the landscape of this lake could be changing.

A Miami-Dade community board will decide Thursday night if the development plan can move forward.

Kevin Ozebek, 7News.

CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com