ocean key resort key west commits grand theft

Well as of today the vessel purchased by gentleman in Jacksonville Florida has been left at marina in Ft. Lauderdale.Tthe owner was told by attorneys representing him boat is definately stolen. After talking to sheriffs department in ft. Lauderdale and faxing original report to them filed with monroe county sheriffs department they were amazed this was not filed as GRAND THEFT. I just got off phone with a Ft. Lauderdale news station and one news paper this will be in the media soon so stay tuned. When will monroe county sheriffs department wake up and decide the bad publicity and the influence on them by deep pocket people in key west is not what they are there for.

for those of you following heres what happened today. i was in touch with coast guard licensing agency regularily keeping an eye open for person who purchased vessel to file for new title. i got word new ownership papers were filed on my vessel and was given name of person who applied. i called gentleman who was in miami yesterday taking boat to jacksonville from key west. i told him boat was stolen and sold illegally. now this man not knowing me from adam was shocked. he called a very reputable maritime attorney in jacksonville after hearing my story and hired this man to help. i spoke to the boat purchaser again today he gave me attorneys phone number asking me to call i did. this attorney was just hired yesterday but his client told him what the story was i gave him and he was shocked. he told me (attorney)after talking to his client and finding out this boat was taken from out of area and brought back to hotel for them to claim statuate this attorney told the hotels attorney today by phone he represents the man who bought boat and told attorney under statuate 328.17 it is illegal to go take posession of a boat bring it back and claim this lien. (at this point he didnt talk with or even know me yet) so here you have a maritime attorney which doesnt even represent me telling hotel attorney yes its against law what they did. the man who bought boat was in ft. lauderdale florida today(about half way home) he left boat at marina got rental car heading all the way up state to meet attorney at 9am(hes not a happy camper)i was also told the week before auction he met with boat broker i was contracted with to sell boat which took him to see boat. after seeing boat he went back home called my broker the following sunday to make an offer on boat. the broker(which i had contract with)told him he didnt need to make offer to owner because hotel was auctioning boat off the next morning and he would represent him in the purchase. this past friday i spoke to broker involved he assured me that he had no knowledge of how the boat got in the hotels posession but after talking to the buyer and me getting the story he told me if he had the knowlege that the boat was taken the way it was he would have told new buyer when looking at boat and would have advised him not to purchase vessel. i will post more this week as it becomes available

while in touch with the u.s. coast guard today i was told the gentleman who purchased my stolen boat had applied for new title. i told coast guard boat was stolen and we did not authorise sale of vessel. i was asked to send in statement and its now my understanding title will not be transferred. i kind of feel sorry for person who got in middle of this situation but also feel if you are purchasing something of this value and getting it for a price much lower than value its best to do your homework. i also talked to a federal group today and gave my statement as to the theft of boat im hoping a full investigation will be done and arrests and charges be brought up on all individuals involved in theft. i will keep everyone posted as i hear more.

what a joke? i was told by investigator that nothing wrong was done in reguards with the f.w.c. handling case. he says there are no policies the f.w.c.has that says how an officer is to handle boats adrift. where the hell is common sense? a police office is stupid enough to give away a $200,000 boat to someone coming up to them with no paperwork, and a bull shit story saying they are in charge of boat. with as many boats that go adrift in florida for many reasons they have or claim not to have any policies on how boats of this matter are to be handled. (amazing)

I just got a call today from Mike Troelstrup with the internal investigations unit with the f.w.c. I was told that the governors office of Florida has sent them an e amil to investigate complaint. After talking to Mike Troelstrup for over an hour I would like to say I feel confident in the investigation but IM a little Leary. Mike assured me a full investigation would be done on this matter and actions would be taken if wrong doing is found. I would like the f.w.c. to stand up admit mistakes and cover ups and do what needs to be done to resolve this matter. I would further like to say that to resolve this matter one of two things would have to be done at a minimum.

1) f.w.c. officers make arrests on all parties involved in the theft of my boat after they were deceived by these people in order to gain possession of my boat in the first place.

2) f.w.c files actions on all parties involved in theft of boat(state attorneys office) . Not only the theft but interference with investigation,deception of a state police officer and anything else they can. I feel strong about a police agency standing up to anyone who falsifies information to a police office in order to attain something that doesn't belong to them.

I will keep everyone posted on any further updates

I just found out today boat was just sold. It was auctioned off by hotel. I am so amazed people can just come and (self help) take a vessel and sell your boat illegally.I will keep you posted on further updates