ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Sentenced to seven years in prison, former St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office finance director Raye Brutnell pleaded guilty to grand theft.
Shortly after the conviction Tuesday, the department released a statement. In it Sheriff Rob Hardwick said, “The men and women of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office work tirelessly every day to gain and maintain our public’s trust. Through her actions and misconduct, Ms. Brutnell violated this trust which is unacceptable and her sentence is appropriate.”
She was also ordered to pay $750,00 in restitution and will undergo 10 years of probation when she gets out of prison.
Since he took office, Hardwick says he’s created “new checks and balances” to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the 10th Judicial Circuit for a thorough investigation and prosecution.
Brutnell has been with SJSO since 1991 and has served as Finance Director since January 2013. SJSO says she was placed on leave when the allegations came forward in November of 2018.
The alleged fraud dates back to October 2013. The arrest warrant said Brutnell created fake vendor accounts and put funds deposited in to these accounts from the department in to her personal accounts.