Nonprofit remains steadfast following recent arrest

Greg, at left, is a graduate of the Open Arms Village program. Shane, right, has been a client for about two months. The nonprofit provides housing and supportive services to men in need. Programs remain ongoing despite the recent arrest of the former executive director. [Photo by Andy Fillmore]

Open Arms Village, a transitional housing and restorative outreach for homeless men, is moving forward in spite of the alleged theft of at least $100,000, and possibly much more, by the nonprofit’s former executive director.

An Ocala Police Department arrest affidavit states that Det. R. Cespedes made contact on May 16 with a representative of OAV about an allegation that “during a financial audit OAV determined funds were being misappropriated by the executive director, Dennis Grundy.”

The OPD affidavit states that Grundy, 40, who also once served as a case manager at OAV, is suspected by the investigating officer of stealing possibly as much as $264,616.76 from the nonprofit in a “systematic ongoing course of action” to defraud the organization.

The formal charges accuse Grundy of one count each of organized fraud/scheme to defraud and grand theft/obtain property valued at $100,000 or more.

Grundy was booked into the Marion County Jail on June 20 and was released on June 23, in lieu of $40,000 bond.

The arrest report alleges Grundy wrote about 26 OAV checks to himself not authorized by the board of directors. In at least some cases between January 2023 to May 2025, Grundy allegedly changed the payee name on checks from a construction company “Remco,” as per altered records he submitted to the bookkeeper for OAV, to his name as payee, the arrest affidavit states.

Acting Executive Director Jill Beck is quoted in the arrest report as stating OAV “is not utilizing” Remco as a contractor. The investigating officer could not find a contractor by that name.

“Grundy was able to mislead the board and the bookkeeper by sending images of altered checks and statements to the bookkeeper. Grundy also utilized an OAV credit card to make purchases that were not associated with OAV. Of the checks Grundy wrote to himself, only one (1) was authorized by the board, which was a Christmas bonus for $1,000 in December 2024,” the arrest affidavit stated.

Grundy also is suspected of charging $1,093.50 in city of Ocala utilities bills for his residence to an OAV credit card. The arrest affidavit also details multiple suspected unauthorized PayPal transactions between 2023 and 2025. The document notes that an OAV official provided check images and banks statements that showed the check payee as “Dennis Grundy” and the signature authorizing the check was Grundy’s signature. The official also provided credit card statements (2023 and 2024 only) showing Grundy used the OAV credit card to make unauthorized payments to PayPal, city of Ocala Utilities, etc. The official estimated the total value of the unauthorized checks was $33,769.63 and total for the unauthorized credit card charges was $47,612.08.

On June 30, a man who identified himself as Grundy at the southwest Ocala apartment listed as his residence in the police document, said he had “no comment” when asked he if would like to speak about the case.

“This was a punch in the gut but also a learning experience,” said board member Harvey Vandeven in a meeting a few days after Grundy was arrested. “We’ve added more safeguards and revamped our procedures going forward. We apologize to our donors and promise not to let it affect our residents.”

Vandeven said the board would like to see Grundy pay restitution and realize the “consequences” of his actions.

When asked about the time frame and particulars of the alleged scheme, Vandeven said that “because it is (an) ongoing investigation” he was unable to answer specifics.

Vandeven did say that OAV case management and programs were not affected by the alleged crime and that business has been “”as usual” at OAV. He indicated that any impact of the theft might be on efforts to establish a women’s residential program.

The outreach has received a $50,000 donation since the alleged theft was announced, according to one board member.

Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano praised the work of the nonprofit.

“Open Arms does so much good for so many men. I’ve watched them change the lives of numerous people over the years, he said via a text message.

“I’m hopeful the community rallies behind them so that they continue to do the great things they have done…the team over there won’t let one bad apple spoil all the great things they have accomplished,” he wrote.

The residential program’s facility is located at 1839 NE 8th Road, in a building leased from the adjacent Saint Marks United Methodist Church for a token amount.

OAV is marking its tenth year of turning around the lives of homeless men suffering from addiction. About 500 men have graduated to date from outreach programs.

Clients are typically referred by word-of-mouth or from healthcare facilities, according to an OAV official.

Davieoyn Hopson, director of behavior health at OAV, said the program’s success rate is 76% for clients, which means they become “clean and sober” and self-sufficient.

Shayne, 33, is a client who entered the program about two months ago, after referral from SMA Healthcare. He and program graduate Greg support OAV. Both men had struggles with alcohol or drug addiction but are “clean and sober.” Shayne is a cook at a local restaurant and Greg is in the wastewater treatment business.

Greg, 66, entered OAV about two years ago in the wake of about 15 statewide arrests and prison time. He said he was on a “death, destruction” path and OAV saved his life.

He’s in a stable relationship now and has been working at the same job for more than two years.

“OAV saw something in me,” he said.

To learn more, go to openarmsvillageocala.org