Trump International Beach Resort employee accused of stealing $6,500 from guest’s hotel room, police say

SUNNY ISLES BEACH, Fla. — A Trump International Beach Resort employee was arrested Saturday on accusations that she stole $6,500 in cash from a guest’s hotel room Friday while the guest was attending a soccer match, the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department confirmed.

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Monica Latesha Peterson, 33, of Miami Gardens, was arrested after detectives investigated the reported theft at the oceanfront resort, located at 18001 Collins Ave.

According to an arrest report, the victim told police he left a black fanny pack containing approximately $6,500 in $100 bills on a dresser inside his hotel room before leaving for a soccer game on Friday. Argentina defeated Cape Verde in the World Cup in Miami Gardens that day.

When the guest checked the bag the following day, he discovered the cash was missing and reported the theft to police.

Detectives reviewed hotel surveillance video and employee keycard access logs during the investigation. According to the arrest report, the records showed Peterson used her assigned employee keycard to enter the victim’s room at approximately 6:11 p.m. Friday while the guest was not inside.

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Investigators also determined Peterson was not assigned to clean or otherwise service the room as part of her job duties, the report states.

Police took Peterson into custody and transported her to the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department for questioning.

According to the arrest report, Peterson waived her Miranda rights and participated in a recorded interview, during which she provided some kind of admission, although her exact statement was redacted from the publicly released report. The report does not confirm whether any of the stolen money was recovered.

After the interview, Peterson was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

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Court records show Peterson is facing a grand theft charge.

She was no longer appearing in the online jail database on Monday afternoon.