The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman for defrauding her Tampa employer of more than $56,000 over a period of 13 months.
The manager of Broadspire, a division of Crawford & Company, handles Workers’ Compensation Claims, reported a grand theft of tens of thousands of dollars. They learned of the impropriety from a client who received a 1099 tax form from Broadspire that reflected more than the amount received in benefits. The Tampa Police Department contacted Sarasota County detectives, since an internal audit of Broadspire records indicated Joanne Bell, DOB 8/15/75, 525 Hand Avenue, Sarasota, was involved.
The investigation revealed that Bell, who worked as a claims examiner, issued four checks in the client’s name but mailed them to her post office box in Sarasota. Ultimately, 35 checks totaling $56,195.66 were sent to Bell and deposited into her Chase Bank account between November 2011 and January 2013.
Bell was arrested Monday and charged with Scheme to Defraud. She was released from the Sarasota County Jail after posting $20,000 bond.