Man accused of swindling $25K in charitable donations from a Florida Keys resort
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested a Florida City man accused of stealing a sack that contained nearly $25,000 in checks that members of the gated Ocean Reef Club donated to a charity.
Tarrel Traeon Collins, 42, was booked into county jail Wednesday on burglary and grand theft charges. As of Thursday afternoon, he remained jailed with bond yet to be set.
Per the sheriff’s office, security camera footage from Ocean Reef Drive showed a pickup truck parked next to a golf cart that contained the money bag. The footage shows Collins reach into the cart and take the sack, sheriff’s office spokesman Adam Linhardt said.
Collins was found later in the day and confronted about taking the bag, Linhardt said, adding he admitted taking it and turned it over.
Linhardt said it was not immediately clear if Collins worked for Ocean Reef Club or if he worked for a company doing jobs at the exclusive community and resort, which is located in north Key Largo.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 2:05 PM.
