PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – A former Pinellas County Highway Department employee was arrested for misusing his employer’s credit card and pawning items he allegedly stole from the county.
Authorities say Jeffrey Keith Hailes, 30 spent over $1,335 at a Home Depot in January, using his employer’s credit card without their authorization.
He was also busted for pawning items belonging to the county at a Pinellas Park pawn shop, including a Rebar cutter from his work truck worth $1,399. He received $150 in return. In other instances, Hailes, pawned other items belonging to Pinellas County, including a jigsaw, a nail gun, a grinder and a survey level.
His employers were able to identify the items he pawned and told authorities these transactions were not authorized.
Hailes was arrested on Saturday and charged with eight counts of false verification of ownership, two violation of probation charges (cocaine and oxycodone possession) and one count of scheming to defraud.
A county spokesperson said that Hailes’ employment ended with the county in February.
He remains at the Pinellas County Jail, where he is being held on a $90,000 bond.WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON-
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