The United Airlines CEO has been accused of stealing sand from a Florida beach to create protective dunes in front of his $6.8 million Ponte Vedra home.
Hurricanes Matthew and Irma had wiped out the dunes along the Ponte Vedra beachfront however, WJXT News4Jax noted that the dunes in front of four homes, including that of United's Oscar Munoz, had recently been built up.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection launched an inspection of Munoz's property on March 21, following a complaint against the airline company head, and discovered that machinery had been scooping up the sand and depositing it in front of his home to create a "small frontal dune at the base of the original eroded dune," according to First Coast News.
The DEP issued letters of warning to Munoz's wife, Catherine Munoz, as well as three other residents in the area to refrain from taking sand from the beach to create dunes, stating that it was a violation of Florida State statute and that they could face hefty fines.
According to First Coast News, Munoz was allocated 15 days to arrange for a meeting to discuss the matter with officials.
Resident Bill Hudson said he was "outraged" by the sand stealing debacle.
"It's a poor reflection on the whole community that someone would be that presumptuous to virtually steal something that belongs to the public and use it for personal gain," he said, according to WJXT News4Jax.
Beachgoer Wendy Vaughn wondered how, if the residents could afford such luxurious beachfront homes, they could not afford to have sand brought in and "do it the right way."
However, as one resident pointed out, by refraining from paying for a dune built from commercial sand trucked in to the site, Munoz was skirting forking out about $28,000, the Chicago Tribune said.
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