APOPKA, Fla. — A former bookkeeper for an Apopka company was behind bars Wednesday after police say she embezzled more than $25,000 from an electrical contractor
Apopka police say Desire Mellano made off with tens of thousands of dollars after using her position as a bookkeeper for Carter Electric as a front to embezzle money.
Mellano was charged with fraud and embezzlement and is now awaiting arraignment in the Orange County jail.
"She's in a position of trust as bookkeeper and her job was to maintain the books and pay the bills and everything that was appropriate for the business only. She was not authorized to make transactions for her personal business," said Officer Edwin Chittenden, Apopka Police Department.
The owner of Carter Electric says she did it with a credit card that was supposed to be used for purchasing supplies. Instead, she allegedly bought things for herself.
Records show she bought groceries, went to eat at various restaurants, and even bought airline tickets, rental cars and went to beauty salons all on the company's dime. According to cops in two counties, she even set up online accounts to funnel money directly to herself.
"It appeared that she was putting money into a PayPal account, and she was purchasing iPhones and purchasing everything that was not for the company, but for herself," Chittenden said.
The owner of Carter Electric couldn't go on camera, but told WFTV he's happy Mellano is finally behind bars so she can't do the same to another small business.
Mellano was on the run for a number of months, according to police. She was finally captured and arrested in Pennsylvania.