Kent Security sues developer Michael Stern over unpaid bills

The Alexander family’s Kent Security is looking to collect on unpaid bills, and its latest target is developer Michael Stern. 

North Miami Beach-based Kent, which is owned by Orly and Shlomy Alexander and Orly’s brother Gil Neuman filed a lawsuit this week against Stern for $127,697.64, plus prejudgment interest. 

Stern is founder and CEO of JDS Development Group, which counts the stalled Mercedes-Benz Places and the planned 888 Brickell among its condo projects in Miami. The firm also completed Monad Terrace in South Beach. 

Stern hired Kent to provide armed security guards to his waterfront Miami Beach home starting in August 2022 and ending in December 2024, according to the complaint. But Stern failed to pay Kent for its services from December 2023 until December 2024, and owes Kent that amount, plus interest, the lawsuit states. 

Kent said it incurred the costs of recruiting and supervising the guards, paying their wages, taxes, insurance and other benefits. Kent charged Stern at an hourly rate of $37 per guard, or $55 during the holidays. 

Stern hired separate security in Kent’s place. Last year, attempted carjackers tried to steal Stern’s Maybach after jumping the fence, the Wall Street Journal reported in a story about the push to gate off the street where Stern and other wealthy homeowners live. Stern wasn’t in the car at the time, but his private security, a former New York City police officer, was sitting in the front seat with the engine idling. 

Kent’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and Stern declined to comment. 

Kent, which has rebranded to KS Services, declined to comment. Kent is suing a number of other property owners and clients for unpaid services, including the Trump Royale condo association in Sunny Isles Beach, records show. 

Stern’s dealings with the family haven’t only extended to private security. 

The Alexander family’s Alexander Group demolished the former house on Stern’s property. Orly, Shlomy and Neuman control the Alexander Group, state records show. 

A custom 14,000-square-foot mansion that fronts Biscayne Bay was later built on the property and completed in 2023.  

Orly and Shlomy are the parents of Oren, Tal and Alon Alexander. The three Alexander brothers were found guilty of sex trafficking and related charges earlier this year by a federal jury and are awaiting their sentencing in October. They have been in federal custody since December 2024. Oren and Tal were prominent real estate brokers who worked with and previously socialized with Stern. 

When Oren and Tal were hit with rape allegations and stepped away from Official Partners, the brokerage firm the Alexanders co-founded, Official was leading sales of 888 Brickell, JDS’ Dolce & Gabbana-branded development. JDS hired One Sotheby’s International Realty to take over sales and marketing, as Michael Shvo did with the Rosewood Residences at the Raleigh. One Sotheby’s is now suing Stern for more than $500,000 in allegedly unpaid commissions, expense reimbursements and marketing fees on the project. That suit was filed in May. 

Stern’s JDS is reportedly working on securing construction financing for the Mercedes-Benz Places and 888 Brickell, sources previously told The Real Deal. At Mercedes-Benz Places, he is in talks with Jeffrey Soffer’s Fontainebleau Development to join the project, which is at the center of a number of lawsuits, including a foreclosure and a countersuit filed by JDS.

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