Deputies in the Florida Keys handled a string of serious incidents this week, ranging from severe animal neglect in Big Coppitt Key to a woman allegedly pilfering high-end construction materials to renovate her own home.
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Donald Ray Sargant, 49, on animal cruelty charges following a disturbing discovery at a residence on Ed Swift Road in Big Coppitt Key.
Deputies were initially called to the scene to assist the SPCA in taking custody of several animals. Upon removal, three dogs were immediately transported to a veterinarian for emergency assessment.
READ: ‘Bug Spray’ Hustle Sinks Defense In Florida: Viral Con Artist Danielle Miller Gets 16-Year Sentence
The medical findings were grim: the dogs were severely malnourished, underweight, and suffering from dehydration. Beyond the starvation, veterinarians reported the animals were battling a host of medical ailments, including exposed sores, hookworms, intestinal parasites, and various infections.
Sargant was booked into jail shortly after the dogs were rescued.
‘Home Improvement’ Theft
A day earlier, on January 7, deputies in Ramrod Key arrested a 67-year-old woman accused of stealing thousands of dollars in building materials from a neighbor to upgrade her own house.
Virginia Donaldson was charged with theft after a property owner on Bayshore Drive caught her in the act. According to the incident report, the victim spotted Donaldson taking marble tiles stored on his land and loading them into a pickup truck. While the owner managed to retrieve the tiles she was actively moving, he told deputies this wasn’t the first time materials had vanished.
During questioning, Donaldson reportedly admitted to the theft, telling deputies she had previously taken approximately 23 tiles from the property to use for decorating her own home. Investigators confirmed the tiles installed in Donaldson’s residence matched those missing from the victim’s supply. The total value of the stolen marble was estimated at $2,880.
READ: “She Said She Was 17”: Florida Keys Man Jailed For Hiding Georgia Runaway
Check Cashing Scheme Foiled
Also on Wednesday, a 33-year-old Homestead man was jailed following a failed attempt to cash a paycheck that wasn’t his.
Gabriel Andrea Andres Venzant faces charges including grand theft, forgery, and fraudulent use of personal identification. Authorities allege Venzant stole a $1,700 check from the landscaping company where he was employed and attempted to cash it at a bank in Key Largo.
Bank officials rejected the transaction because the check was not properly endorsed. Undeterred, Venzant allegedly tried to cash the forged instrument a second time but was turned away again. Security footage captured the attempts, leading to a warrant for his arrest. He was booked into jail on January 7.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
