FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. — A City of Fruitland Park employee is facing several felony charges after he was arrested by Lake County deputies Monday.
Jabari Hopkins, who was the human resources director for the city, is accused of theft, forgery and removing human remains from a city-run cemetery.
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The investigation into Hopkins began in January after the city’s finance director reported some suspicious transactions on city accounts.
Investigators said they found gas purchases, oil changes, car washes and payments to Florida Memorial University on Hopkins’ city-issued credit card.
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Police said they believe Hopkins was selling burial plots at the city-run cemetery and pocketing the money.
Investigators say in one case Hopkins allegedly removed an urn from a plot for cremated remains and then sold the spot to someone else.
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Police believe Hopkins didn’t realize the urn actually contained remains.
When reached by phone, the widow of the man whose remains were moved said it’s been traumatizing and for a while they had no idea where her husband’s remains were.
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