Three Charged in Grand Theft in Franklin County

Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Tallahassee Regional Operations Center today announce the arrest of Leonard Martin, 48, of Apalachicola, and Nicole Wood, 28, of Tallahassee, for grand theft.

The Franklin County School Board contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) with allegations that Peter R. Brown Construction, Inc. (PRBC) billed them $130,000 for a security system that was never installed.  The FCSO contacted FDLE in February 2009 to investigate.

FDLE’s investigation revealed that PRBC project manager Casey Kelley, 32, of Wewahitchka, worked with Leonard Martin, owner of Martin Security and Purity Temporary Employment (PTE), to misappropriate funds intended for the school board’s security system.  PRBC reimbursed the school board and terminated Kelley after the theft was discovered.

The investigation further revealed that between 2007 and 2008, Kelley and Martin falsified PTE employee timesheets and billed PRBC approximately $817,000 for work on other projects that had not been done.  Martin’s office manager, Nicole Wood, allegedly created fraudulent invoices for time worked and billed PRBC.  Wood facilitated the transactions and Kelley and Martin split the profits.

Kelley and Martin were charged with 43 counts of grand theft; one first-degree felony, 12 second-degree felonies, and 30 third-degree felonies.  Wood was charged with 12 second-degree felonies and 30 third-degree felonies.

Martin was booked in the Franklin County Jail.  Wood was booked in the Leon County Jail. Kelley is expected to turn himself in tonight.