Former Condo Treasurer Gets 20 Years For Bilking $900K+ From Homeowners' Association

In Davie, Florida, The Miami Herald reports:

• A Broward County man who stole nearly $1 million from a condominium community made up primarily of trusting senior citizens will spend the next 20 years in prison and will have to pay the money back with interest, a judge ruled Friday. Christopher Winkelholz, 27, preyed on the residents of the Whitehall Condominium Association in Davie for more than two years before he was caught as he was about to flee the country to Argentina in 2007, prosecutors said.

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• Police found that Winkelholz befriended neighbors at the condominium, [...] and was elected treasurer of the board, which gave him access to the group's funds. He then set up a fake cleaning-service company and wrote checks from the condo association's account to the phony company, forging the names of some residents. He was caught when one of the names he forged on a check was that of a deceased, former resident.

• In total, Winkelholz stole $920,000, which he used to take expensive trips, buy fancy cars and live a lavish lifestyle, prosecutors said. He was convicted of grand theft and forgery earlier this year.

For the story, see Broward condo swindler gets 20 years in prison.