Boca Raton/Delray Beach: Disappearance of escrow money being investigated

[Deborah Hartz-Seeley]

Delray Beach police are investigating the reported disappearance of more than $1 million held in escrow accounts for Mizner Grande Realty clients, police said.

Mizner Grande owner Ari Albinder said he was called by a client whose escrow money, held by a Boca Raton attorney, had been disbursed without proper authority.

“I was shocked,” Albinder said. “He said the escrow money was disbursed a long time before.” Albinder said he filed a report with Delray Beach police. 

Albinder said Jon Rashotsky, a former agent with his firm, requested the release of the escrow funds. Albinder said he fired Rashotsky in November. Rashotsky could not be reached for comment.

Albinder said his firm is suing Rashotsky for return of the money.

 His firm has hired a private attorney, Thomas Graner of Graner Law Group of Boca Raton, to monitor all the escrow accounts of its clients.

— Angie Francalancia