[Update: Pursuant to a plea agreement, Uniqueka Davis-McKinney’s case was placed on a stet docket on April 24, 2019, and was nolle prossed on December 19, 2019.]
Just days before his trial was set to begin, South Hampton Homeowners’ Association treasurer Benedicto Afroilan pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge of fraudulent misappropriation, likely bringing an end to court proceedings against Afroilan and his four co-defendants in the case.
Last month Afroilan’s co-defendant Ulysee Davis, president of the HOA, entered a similar plea.
Last October, Afroilan and Davis, their spouses and Davis’ daughter were charged with allegedly stealing over $100,000 from the South Hampton HOA over the course of at least five years
Charles County Circuit Court Associate Judge Donine Carrington Martin agreed to defer Afroilan’s sentencing until Nov. 1 pending the creation of a mutually satisfactory restitution plan with the HOA.
According to the plea agreement, the state will also not proceed to trial against Afroilan’s wife Elsa, which was scheduled for next month, provided that Afroilan makes “substantial progress toward his restitution obligation.”
Davis entered into a similar agreement in April to defer the trials scheduled for his wife Linda and daughter Uniqueka Davis-McKinney.
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office filed charges against the five following a 14-month investigation by CCSO’s financial crimes division that involved tracing payments to and from multiple accounts in least three banks and the seizure of documents from the Davis and Afroilan residences.
The sheriff’s office alleged that Ulysee Davis would issue a monthly payment to Unique Management Company and then transfer the money to personal bank accounts in his, his wife’s and his daughter’s names.
Davis allegedly hired a company owned by Elsa Afroilan, CleanGreen Services, as a subcontractor to provide trash pickup services in the South Hampton neighborhood. The charges alleged that Davis used CleanGreen as a cover for transferring deposits to the Afroilans’ personal accounts.
If convicted, Davis and his wife would have faced up to 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The others could have been sentenced to a maximum of 10 years and a $10,000 fine.
The sheriff’s office and the Charles County Office of the State’s Attorney declined to comment for this story.
Originally Posted on Maryland Independent: