The landscaper known as the Red Button Thief is free on bond following his arrest after allegedly damaging gates in The Villages.
Jaramei Evan Amidei, 28, walked out of the Sumter County Detention Center at 5:43 p.m. Friday after posting $2,000 bond. He is also facing charges in Marion County.
He was captured on surveillance video approaching gates, pressing the red entry button and then removing the button and tossing it into his vehicle. He told law enforcement officers he removed the buttons because they were “loose.” Initially, he was arrested by Marion County deputies for removing the red button at the Briar Meadow North Gate. But while he was being held at the Marion County Jail, a Sumter County detective confronted Amidei with additional images of him doing the same thing at other gates.
In all, five red buttons have been removed. Each red button costs $100 to replace. However, in each instance the card reader had to be replaced at a cost of $250 apiece to the District.
He was convicted of grand theft in 2010 in Marion County.
