Two Miami men are charged with stealing items meant for homeless veterans that were worth more than $300,000.
The volunteer, Miami director of the non-profit Florida Veterans Foundation, Antonio Colmenares, 57, was arrested by Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents on first degree grand theft. Also arrested was Colmenares’ friend, Antonio Sabatier, 60, who did not hold an official position with the organization.
The charges stem from a complaint filed by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs in March 2015 which was investigated by the FDLE. The two men allegedly had sold 27,000 blankets and 9,700 ready-to-eat meals that were donated to the Florida Veterans Foundation for use by homeless vets.
Money from the sale, according to the FDLE, was deposited into the bank account of a company owned by Sabatier, Nike Management.
The investigation also found that other donated items meant for homeless veterans had been sold for profit. The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General’s Office assisted in the investigation.
Colmenares and Sabatier are out on a $20,000 bond each after being booked into the Miami-Dade Jail.
