A property manager featured in an NBC6 investigation has been arrested on charges of grand theft and perjury. Michael Curtis, owner of BDM Property Management, is accused of stealing nearly half a million dollars in insurance settlement funds from homeowners at the Fairways of Sunrise.
“We’ve been through hell and back for so many years, and we couldn’t find any resolution,” said Valarie Davis, a homeowner in the community. The arrest has provided some relief to residents who feel their concerns are finally being addressed. “I saw the text and I was like, ‘thank you, Jesus!’ Finally, something is being done about this,” said homeowner Claudia Knight.
Prosecutors claim that Curtis stole insurance money intended to help the community recover from damage caused by Hurricane Irma. According to investigators, Curtis lied to homeowners about the payment and misused the funds. In a court appearance on Monday, Curtis’s attorney, Elias Hilal, questioned the evidence presented by the police, arguing there was no proof that the funds were taken without permission.
Court records show that Curtis signed the settlement agreement in January 2020, which left the Fairways community with over $444,000. However, shortly after receiving the funds, an unauthorized check was issued to BDM Property Management for $439,000, labeled as a “management fee” for hurricane repairs. Curtis allegedly hid the money from homeowners and falsely told them that the insurance case had been dismissed, as shown in a recorded meeting from June 2021.
“He got the money. He took it, hid it from us,” said Davis, adding that Curtis never informed homeowners about the payment.
Fairways of Sunrise severed ties with Curtis in 2021, and the community has been in litigation with him ever since. Curtis is also facing perjury charges for allegedly lying under oath, claiming he was unaware of any money paid by the insurance company.
In September, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation revoked Curtis’s licenses, citing his conduct at the Fairways of Sunrise. Curtis has appealed the revocation in court and has continued working temporarily.
NBC6 previously reported on similar complaints from other communities managed by Curtis and BDM Property Management, including allegations of bullying, unpaid bills, and missing funds.
“These other communities, all I can say, as I’ve said before, don’t give up. Perseverance is the key,” said Knight.
Curtis is currently being held on a $100,000 bond, and a judge has ordered that he prove any funds used for his release were obtained legally.
NBC6 reached out to Curtis’s attorney, Elias Hilal, for comment but has not received a response. A representative for Curtis previously told NBC6 that the complaints regarding his license revocation were without merit.
