Woman charged with embezzling more than 200,000 from Fish Tale Marina
On February 11, 2010, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a representative of the Fish Tale Marina, located at 7225 Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach, in reference to a long-term embezzlement believed to have been committed by a long time and trusted employee. Due to the nature of the incident, the case was assigned to a detective with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit.
Case investigators learned the complainant had recently discovered several unauthorized and fraudulent transactions resulting in the loss of several thousand dollars. The victims provided detectives with documentation indicating the transactions included fraudulent checks written to the Office Manager of Fish Tale Marina, Jody Lynne Lovejoy (DOB 10/31/58). These documents indicated the checks had been written to Lovejoy as far back as April 2006. Investigators learned Lovejoy had daily access to all the accounts utilized by the business, and as Office Manager, was responsible for the day to day operation of the business.
The victims explained they became aware of the incident when an internal review of their finances was conducted. Initially, they identified more than twelve-thousand dollars in the form of fraudulent checks written out to Lovejoy. Further investigation revealed Lovejoy had orchestrated a total of eighty-one fraudulent transactions dating as far back as 2003. In total, she deposited a total of $243,772.75 into her personal account. This does not include any cash deposits that may have occurred.
As a result of the investigating, detectives arrested Lovejoy on April 14, 2010. She has been charged with one count of Grand Theft – 1st Degree and one count of Fraud – 1st Degree. She has been booked into the Lee County Jail.