SugarGate: The Fallout From Gorman/Beaumont Past Plagues SugarTop Resort

With Growing Questions About Where Money Is Going and Real Estate Brokers Dropping Out of Listing Units

Dave Geisler Addressing Sugargate Issues…Maybe Not But There Could Be Similarities

The fallout from the issues surrounding the Gorman/Beaumont situation is becoming very real.

As we previously reported, Shannon Gorman/Beaumont, the current general manager of Sugartop HOA, is a Florida felon with a criminal history that includes: Two counts of grand theft over $300 but less than $5000; grand theft over $ 10,000 but less than $20,000; sixteen counts of forgery; sixteen counts of uttering forged instruments; fraud involving less than $10,000 or more than 10 individuals; and three counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information. Ms. Gorman/Beaumont is on probation in Florida until 2029. As general manager, she has or has had access to Sugartop's finances and other sensitive information, including the authority to sign checks for the HOA.

The Board is not taking decisive action, and it’s starting to look like a coverup... Watergate... or should it be Sugargate? The facts are damning, and the failure to act is damaging.

There are thirty units for sale at Sugartop. As of today, one broker—who wishes to keep her identity confidential—wrote to the client after reviewing the Gorman/Beaumont issues:

“I'm sorry, but I can't take this listing anymore. I would like to terminate our agency agreement. I have sent the document through dot loop for e-signatures.”

A second real estate agent reviewed the facts surrounding the Gorman/Beaumont Sugargate issues and recommended removing the unit from the market until the issues are resolved. The agent and owner, for now, wish to remain confidential.

As of this post neither the HOA Board nor the HOA attorney have proposed a workable solution.

Questions remain about Gorman/Beaumont’s management of HOA finances. Evidence shows that the Sugartop HOA Board was presented with information indicating there were not two, but four checks that Gorman/Beaumont wrote to herself, excluding the last 12 months. Additionally, she issued a check for $550 to an owner, nearly $400 of which was for wood pieces she asked him to build for her, not for Sugartop.

Evidence was presented to the Sugartop Board of Governors that a charge of $20.13 was made to Allianz Travel Insurance on 5/6/24. The key evidence would be to verify if an airline ticket, hotel, or other expenses were involved. We have been informed (not confirmed) that a charge of $195.00 was made from High Country Transportation, 828-898-9595. What service was provided? We also heard that the 20 charges, totaling $1581.76, were restaurant charges in the first six months of 2024. No credible explanation has been offered for these charges.

The Board of Governors and HOA attorney have not explained these issues. Additionally, the Board of Governors has not hired a forensic accountant to conduct a “deep dive” into these matters, which would pave the way for a forensic report on how Sugartop HOA finances are managed.