LEESBURG, Fla. — Three Lake County Sheriff’s Office employees are accused of social welfare fraud after investigators say altered or forged pay stubs were submitted in connection with subsidized child care benefits.
Probable cause affidavits identify the women as Erin Elaine Mack, Keonna Monae Phillips and Kyre Danisha Kyona Rucker.
The investigation began after the Early Learning Coalition of Lake County flagged inconsistencies in pay stubs submitted by sheriff’s office employees applying for or receiving child care assistance.
The coalition provides reduced or subsidized child care based on household income and requires applicants to submit three consecutive pay stubs.
Investigators said sheriff’s office finance staff compared the submitted documents with official payroll records and determined information on pay stubs connected to Rucker and Phillips had been forged.
Investigators question payroll records
According to the affidavits, Phillips submitted pay stubs that raised questions because the pay rate listed in 2026 was lower than one shown in 2024.
Investigators also said the 2026 pay stubs were generated in the format of Munis, the sheriff’s office’s old payroll system.
The agency had switched to Workday in 2025, which produces pay stubs in a different format, according to the affidavits.
The coalition later compared Phillips’ records with documents submitted by Rucker.
Investigators said Rucker’s records also contained inconsistencies involving employee numbers, bank information and payroll formatting.
Affidavit says one pay stub traced to another employee
Investigators said one pay stub submitted under Rucker’s name matched a legitimate pay stub issued to Mack, who also worked the same Delta shift at the Lake County Jail.
The affidavit says the pay stub submitted under Rucker’s name had the same advice number as Mack’s legitimate pay stub, but different pay information.
According to the affidavit, Mack later contacted investigators and admitted forging three pay stubs for Rucker in 2023.
Investigators said Mack described using her cellphone to edit the pay stubs before printing and scanning them.
Rucker accused of receiving more than $5,000 in benefits
Investigators said Rucker received subsidized child care rates in 2024 and 2025 based on pay stubs that did not reflect her actual income.
According to the affidavit, the Early Learning Coalition recalculated what Rucker should have paid using legitimate payroll information.
Investigators said the estimated overpayment was $1,859 in 2024 and $3,567.20 in 2025, for a total estimated loss of $5,426.20.
Phillips accused after submitting disputed pay stubs
Phillips, identified in the affidavit as a Lake County corrections officer, is also accused of one count of social welfare fraud involving between $200 and $20,000.
Investigators said she withdrew her application after coalition staff asked her to log into the sheriff’s office system and download updated pay stubs.
When questioned by investigators, Phillips was shown the disputed pay stubs, asked whether she needed a union representative and later declined to continue the interview after being read her Miranda rights, according to the affidavit.
Charges filed
Mack, Phillips and Rucker are each accused of one count of social welfare fraud involving more than $200 but less than $20,000, according to the affidavits. The affidavits represent allegations. The cases have not been resolved in court.
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