HOA Treasurer Surrenders After Being Accused Of Stealing Money For Fire Victims

An HOA treasurer in Georgia was accused of theft. The arrest warrants were for charges of theft by conversion and theft by taking. After the accusation, the HOA treasurer surrenders. He did so at the Fulton County Jail.

The Condominium Fire Investigation

In 2020, 24 units at the Camelot Condominiums Homeowners Association were decimated by fire. According to Keith Meadows, the Police Chief of the City of South Fulton, an insurance company provided almost $2 million to the HOA. However, only 6 out of the 24 units received the insurance money.

Meadows said they’re looking for more fire victims to come forward to help with the investigation. The investigators found bank and phone records that linked the missing money to the HOA president, Bettye Ligon, and HOA treasurer Lyndon Baldwin, Sr.

HOA Treasurer Surrenders After Charges

The South Fulton police have consequently issued arrest warrants for the HOA treasurer on charges of theft by conversion and theft by taking. Meadows also said the charges against Ligon and Baldwin are just the tip of the iceberg.

Tyisha Fernandes from Channel 2 corresponded with one of the victims who didn’t get insurance money. They asked not to be identified but gave their statement. According to the victim, “They took my money. It’s still going on. I understand there’s another check coming. I hope they don’t take that.”

In addition, the victim told Fernandes that the corruption is more profound than the current charges. The victim said that some people not paying any monthly fees received some insurance money. On the other hand, the anonymous victim received nothing despite paying their monthly homeowners association assessments.

The arrest warrants for Baldwin, the HOA treasurer, were issued by the police earlier this month. However, police records show that he surrendered on Sunday, November 12, 2023. The HOA treasurer surrendered at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia.