PPD: Audit showed $43,739.34 embezzled

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - The Pensacola Police Department said officers arrested a woman they believe embezzled thousands of dollars from a local physician.

Ellen Renee Garrett, 55, was arrested Friday on an outstanding warrant and charged with one count of grand theft.

Detective Cliff Lyster said Garrett was an employee of Gulf Coast Podiatry since 2002 and had been embezzling funds from patient cash payments for services they received from Dr. Joseph Kiefer.

Lyster said it was Garrett’s responsibility to post payments to patient accounts. However, an investigation determined she didn’t post payments as she should, nor did she deposit cash into business accounts. Garrett would cover up her activity by fraudulently posting a transaction to reduce balance on patient accounts by the amount of money a patient had paid.

Lyster said evidence indicates Garrett embezzled $43,739.34 during the past four years.

The thefts were discovered during a recent audit of business accounts.

The investigation began in June after the department was notified about the thefts.