Patrick Alan Kelly, 60, of Apalachicola, has been arrested for organized fraud after stealing more than $32,000 from his former employer, a local restaurant. The arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO).
The investigation began in January when the FCSO requested FDLE’s assistance in an embezzlement case. The restaurant owner reported that Kelly, who was the business’s manager until December 2024, abruptly resigned after being questioned about several business checks written out to “cash.”
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“I am proud of the work FDLE’s agents and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s put into this investigation. It’s shameful for a person of trust working for a local business to victimize their employer. Crime against businesses not only hurt businessowners, they also hurt patrons and the community,” said FDLE Tallahassee Special Agent in Charge Keith Wilmer.
Franklin County Sheriff AJ “Tony” Smith added, “We appreciate the partnership with FDLE and their assistance with this case. This partnership is especially important when investigating very complex financial crimes that require specialized expertise and resources.”
Through investigative, forensic, and analytical work, authorities determined that at least 43 checks, totaling $32,318, written out to “cash” were signed and endorsed by Kelly.
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Kelly was arrested on March 20th in Tallahassee and booked into the Leon County Jail without bond. The Office of the State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit, will prosecute the case. The Florida Highway Patrol assisted with the arrest.
This is not Kelly’s first encounter with law enforcement. FDLE and FCSO previously arrested him in January for possession of child sexual abuse material. The organized fraud investigation remains active.
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