What happened: A West Palm Beach woman was released on a $10,000 bond after police accused her of stealing rental fees and security deposits from residents at the Andros Isles community.
Background: Crystal Marie Valdes, 37, is charged with money laundering and organized fraud involving less than $20,000, according to a West Palm Beach Police probable-cause affidavit. Authorities said Valdes worked as an assistant property manager at the Andros Isles community, at 2400 Victoria Point.
One of her responsibilities was renting the community clubhouse ballroom. Investigators said Valdes instructed residents to pay refundable security deposits and rental fees with money orders.
But police said the money orders were not properly processed or deposited into the Andros Isles Property Owners Association account. Instead, police said, the money orders were deposited into the personal bank account of Valdes’ boyfriend, Ronald Hight.
The alleged scheme began at least in August 2025 and was discovered in January, police said, after a resident asked about the return of a security deposit. The community association manager then found discarded rental applications and money-order receipts in a box intended for shredding under Valdes’ desk, the affidavit said.
Bank records showed 70 money-order deposits totaling $17,975 into the account between June 2025 and January 2026, according to the affidavit.
The available details are limited to the information verified at publication time. Readers should expect updates as the matter develops.
Any person identified in connection with an alleged offense is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Source: official sources including CBS12 News.
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