The saga of Dario Camara, a former debate coach from Western High School in Davie, Florida, who faced felony fraud charges, has reached a conclusion as the Broward State Attorney's Office has dropped all charges. According to a WSVN report, the charges were related to an alleged failure to cover a $16,000 catering bill for debate tournament services.
Assistant State Attorney Erin Veit, cited in South Florida Sun Sentinel articles, noted in her close-out memo that "The food was ordered for legitimate purposes, and Camara derived no personal gain," reinforcing the decision to absolve Camara of any criminal intent.
The controversy revolved around several unpaid orders from Exquisite Catering by Robert, spanning from October 2022 to April 2023, as previously documented by the catering company's lawyer, Peter Sitaras. Despite the arrest and claims, the lack of a written contract defining payment responsibility became a pivotal factor in the decision to drop the charges. The absence of such an agreement prompted Veit to suggest the issue was more of a misunderstanding than a criminal enterprise, saying, “The crux of the problem stems from an apparent lack of clarity as to the party responsible for paying the invoices,” as noted by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Before the charges were dismissed, Exquisite Catering reached a settlement with the Florida Forensic League, Camara's affiliated organization. They agreed on a $4,000 settlement to dismiss the lawsuit against the league, and Camara, the close-out memo states. Despite attempts by phone and text, Camara could not be reached for comment. Further complicating Camara's situation, was his alleged involvement in other suspicious activities which included using a former roommate's identity to withdraw funds from a debate club account, and exchanging inappropriate texts with a minor. However, Officer Breanna Sibole, a spokeswoman for the Davie police, stated, "Due to lack of evidence, the status of the case is closed with no charges filed," as obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Since his resignation from the school district in November, Camara has maintained a low profile, and the district's decision to place him on "do not rehire" status following their incomplete investigation appears to have marked the end of his educational career, at least for the foreseeable future.
