Although Key West Police Officer Tara Koenig reportedly observed the deliberate duping of dozens of hapless tourists during her seven-month stint as an undercover operative in several local t-shirt shops, she has apparently been unable to document enough wrongdoing to result in any arrests for consumer fraud.
In a confidential report to the City Commissioners and the City Manager, Koenig said the largest rip-off she observed while she was undercover totaled more than $1000— an act of theft. But no one has been arrested for the perpetration of that alleged fraud, nor for other fraudulent sales activity that Koenig reported that she repeatedly observed.
"Until now, we have had limited evidence to back up any prosecution," she wrote in her report— suggesting that her undercover work had provided such evidence.
"But, apparently, there is still no evidence to back up prosecution," said a critic inside the Police Department. "Officer Koenig says that she personally observed multiple cases of theft. Yet she has, apparently, been unable to make a single case."
The source asked not to be identified. Police Chief Buz Dillon has threatened to discipline any Police Department employee who speaks to the press without his permission.
Some arrests did come out of Koenig's seven months of undercover work, however. Eight t-shirt shop owners, employees and associates were arrested on immigration and drug charges.
Four of those arrests came after Koenig said she agreed to "marry" an Israeli national for $2500 to help him circumvent U.S. immigration laws. Arrested for allegedly "defrauding the Immigration and Naturalization Service" were Eli Partoush, 27— Koenig's "groom"— Irena Yusuphov, 47, and Tal Partouch, 28, all listed as co-owners of Stitches t-shirt shops.
Also arrested on the same charge was Lyran Benaim, 19.
Four others— Zachery Seubarran, 25; Fredrick Levy, 26; April Renee Merrill, 27, and Christopher Myers, 26— were arrested on various drug charges.
According to court records, Officer Koenig approached Seubarran to purchase the hallucinogenic chemical "ecstasy" and some "crippy", hydroponically-grown marijuana. The two reportedly met outside of Stitches, 533 Duval St., where Seubarran worked.
Koenig had been given $150 and was wearing a "wire" to record her conversation with Seubarran.
Seubarran is quoted as saying to Koenig, "Oh, good. Come in here. I have a really cool sweatshirt to show you."
Then, he reportedly told her that she would find four plastic quarter-bags of "pot" underneath a stack of sweatshirts.
Also, Koenig accompanied Seubarran to his apartment, where he reportedly called April Renee Merrill, 27, to deliver marijuana.
Seubarran was charged with two counts of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and two counts of selling marijuana. He was jailed with a bond of $25,000. He asked for a public defender, claiming that he earns only $200 a week as a t-shirt salesman.
Police reportedly followed Merrill to her home after the alleged transaction. A search of her apartment turned up 269 grams of marijuana. Marijuana residue was also reportedly found in trash bags in front of her residence.
She was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
According to court records, Koenig also called Levy on July 3 and discussed with him the purchase of crippy. He told her the cost would be $400 per ounce and reportedly drove her to a "pickup point" in his BMW. He later reduced the price to $40 per ounce.
Levy was charged with one count of selling marijuana. He is reportedly out on $25,000 bond.
Myers was arrested for misdemeanor possession of less than 20 grams of pot and possession of drug paraphernalia— a large multi-colored glass pipe. He got out of jail on a $560 bond.
Seubarran, Levy and Merrill all pled not guilty Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Stitches t-shirt shops have reopened for business.