There are new questions after the arrest of a South Florida condo president. They center around a check obtained by 7Investigates.
Katherine Fernandez Rundle/Miami-Dade State Attorney: “It turns out there was trouble in paradise.”
That trouble centered around the president of an Aventura condo association who was handcuffed and arrested.
Thais Penezri/resident: “What I can tell you is that we were living a daily nightmare. I can say it’s a historical day. We’re very happy!”
A happy day for some residents, but a very bad day for Turnberry on the Green president Gregori Arzumanov.
Chief Michael Bentolila/Aventura Police: “He took over not just the building, but all, everything going on around the building. Every asset used in and around the building. It was a complete takeover. I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire career.”
In addition to being the condo president since 2008, prosecutors said he was also the building’s property manager and chief engineer.
Katherine Fernandez Rundle: “In those positions of trust, he had the ability to spend money for things, theoretically, that was for the association. Well, what he did was, he actually bought things that, we believe, were for himself.”
The state said Arzumanov stole more than $1.5 million from the association using it to buy personal items like food, artwork, even airplane fuel for his flight lessons. Now two weeks after his arrest, there are more questions about what else unit owners might have paid for.
Sam Rabin/attorney: “Good morning, your honor, Sam Rabin on behalf of Mr. Arzumanov.”
7Investigates obtained a copy of this $15,000 check paid by Turnberry on the Green Condominium Association to Rabin & Lopez, P.A., the Miami law firm now representing Arzumanov in this criminal condo case.
Sam Rabin: “I’ve been representing Mr. Arzumanov since earlier this year. I’d say approximately April of this year.”
That is the same month the check was issued. The memo reads: “Legal Retainer – Aventura PD.”
But in a statement to 7Investigates, Attorney Sam Rabin said: “The check and the payment it represents is not for Mr. Arzumanov’s representation in his criminal case. The $15,000 payment was made during the course of an investigation, the details of which were unknown at the time.”
Adding “Mr. Arzumanov was arrested approximately five months after that payment and the fees for his representation in his criminal case are being paid for exclusively by Mr. Arzumanov.”
Condo law expert David Haber said the key question is whether the prior board voted to approve the payment.
David Haber: “The board would have the right to hire an attorney for an investigation into its president. Is it legal? Yes. Was it probably a good idea? Probably not.”
Sam Rabin: “Early in this investigation — he didn’t know who was targeted, whether it was him and other board members.”
In a hearing Wednesday morning, Attorney Sam Rabin brought up that check at the center of our 7Investigation on Tuesday night.
Sam Rabin: “The building retained me with a small retainer of $15,000 and that they’re somehow paying for his criminal defense. That also is not true. I have not taken a penny form the building since his arrest.”
Rabin said the check was signed by two people — Arzumanov and a former board member.
Sam Rabin: “I said to the State, if it turns out that check was somehow given improperly, I’ll refund the money.”
In the meantime, Arzumanov remains behind bars for now. Rabin argued that he was not a flight risk and asked the judge to reduce his $350,000 bond.
Sam Rabin: “He is not going anywhere. He wants to fight these charges.”
But the judge sided with the State.
Judge Laura Stuzin: “There’s nothing that you’ve said to me today that convinces me that there’s a reason for me to reduce the bond.”
A hearing is set for Friday — where Arzumanov and his attorney will try to convince the judge the money he uses to post bond wasn’t illegally taken from residents.
CONTACT 7 INVESTIGATES:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
7Investigates@wsvn.com
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