SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — A HOA president and another board member with the Camelot Condominiums were charged after authorities found "financial irregularities."
The two HOA board members, the president and treasurer, face theft by conversion and theft by taking charges, city officials announced during a press conference Friday.
During the press conference, South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows explained how their investigation into the condos began after three residents came forward and filed complaints against the HOA board.
Meadows said an initial building fire in 2020 caused insurance companies to give the HOA board a $250,000 check. A second fire destroyed the building, and HOA received a $1.5M check to compensate residents.
Financial irregularities were found when police looked into the account where the funds were stored.
Police found various transactions coming from the account, which included thousands of dollars taken out of the account, funds unaccounted for, and a personal check written to a HOA board member.
Out of $1.3M granted to the HOA, only six residents received compensation, Meadows said. Currently, police are seeking additional residents who did not receive compensation.
Police anticipate more arrests and additional charges in their investigation of the condos. Authorities are also working with insurance companies to see if fraud was committed.
District 7 councilwoman for the City of South Fulton, Linda Becquer-Pritchett, said crime has gone down by 22% as a result of more law enforcement on Old National Highway in South Fulton.
In a news release, South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows said the warrants are a necessary legal step to bring those responsible for the condominium's shortcomings accountable.
"The City of South Fulton Police Department is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability. We take these allegations seriously, and our officers have worked diligently to gather the necessary evidence to support the issuance of this warrant," Meadows said.
Anyone who was a resident at the condos and did not receive compensation is asked to reach out to Lieutenant Ebony Bullock South from the South Fulton Police Department at 470-440-9681.
History of Camelot Condos
For years, the condos have deteriorated, and more recently, in 2020, a fire destroyed a building at the complex.
The condos have become notorious for suffering from blight and neglect. According to the City of South Fulton Police Department, 15 homicides have happened at Camelot since 2019, and at least six of them have happened this year alone.
People have asked that the front and back gates of the complex be fixed - and if the funds manifest - to get security cameras in the complex.
City of South Fulton Mayor khalid kamau lived in the troubled complex for ten months after taking office to better understand the issues there. Ultimately, residents blame the HOA's inactions and have said they were working to hire an attorney to file a lawsuit against the association.
In the meantime, there are proposed plans to revitalize the space, which includes building senior housing and possibly adding retail development in the complex to help the condo's longest residents stay in their homes.