Florida Woman Accused of Drugging Men at Bars to Steal Luxury Goods
A Florida woman has been arrested and charged with multiple criminal offences after allegedly drugging men she met at bars and robbing them of luxury items and cash. Sarah Tavano, 39, faces ten criminal charges across four separate cases in Miami-Dade County, according to police reports.
Series of Alleged Incidents
The first reported incident occurred on October 26, when a man contacted police after meeting a woman at a bar the previous day. He reported that he did not remember inviting her into his apartment, but upon waking, discovered that gold and diamond jewellery, suitcases, handbags, and wallets had been stolen from his home. The stolen items, valued at over $50,000, belonged to the victim's fiancée. Police matched a fingerprint on a brown watch case to Tavano, who later confessed to stealing the items, including over twenty luxury bags from brands such as Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Versace, Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Further Allegations and Arrest
On December 11, another man reported over $34,000 stolen after meeting a woman at a bar. Authorities stated that the money was taken through unauthorised bank and cryptocurrency transfers after his phone and wallet were stolen. The victim reported experiencing a severe blackout and falling unconscious. A third incident took place on December 13 at the Intercontinental Hotel, where a man reported that a woman approached him at a bar, and he invited her to his hotel room. After consuming a drink, he felt ill with nausea, weakness, and dizziness before losing consciousness. Upon waking, the woman had disappeared with his Rolex watch, valued at approximately $38,000, and $1,500 in cash. The victim described prolonged symptoms of nausea, extreme weakness, dizziness, and vomiting that lasted for about a week.
Police Investigation and Charges
A detective reviewing surveillance footage from the December 13 case immediately recognised Tavano from prior investigations. Tavano was arrested on Sunday at Sugar, a rooftop bar in downtown Miami. At the time of her arrest, she was found with a baggie of white powder, a plastic cup containing four pills, and a bottle of Jagermeister with powder. Tavano told authorities that the liquid in the bottle contained MDMA.
For the October 26 case, Tavano faces charges of burglary of an occupied dwelling and second-degree theft, with a bond set at $12,500. In the December 11 incident, she is charged with organised fraud and third-degree grand theft, also with a $12,500 bond. The December 13 case includes charges of strong-armed robbery, organised fraud, and second-degree grand theft, with a bond of $25,000. Additionally, on Sunday, Tavano was charged with food or water poisoning, cocaine possession, and possession of a controlled substance, with a bond of $5,000. Her total bond amounts to $55,000, and she must prove that the funds for bail were not acquired through criminal activity. Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Michelle Delancy is set to preside over the four cases.
