JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Suns employee is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the team.
According to the Suns website, 36-year-old January Putt started with the team as an intern in 2009, but she's out of a job.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said she's stolen from the team more than once.
Putt was the director of group sales for the Jacksonville Suns, but now she's accused of grand theft and the team said she's been fired.
Action News tried calling Putt, but no one answered. We also went to her apartment building and it had a locked security door.
JSO said Putt started asking sponsors and other customers to make checks out to her attention.
In one case, nearly $2,400.
The Pavilion Plaza Pharmacy Inc. sent a $2,375 check to the Suns for as partial payment for sponsorship.
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The check was made out to the Suns and to the attention of Putt.
Putt removed the name of the Jacksonville Suns from the check and left her own name on the check, according to the police report.
Putt cashed the check into her own bank account.
Police says she confessed to committing the act at least three times, if not more.
"It's more usual than you would expect," said Action News law and safety expert Dale Carson.
Once Putt was caught, the report says she confessed to the act at least three other times.
"That's how it happens. You think 'he can, we, she can never steal from me they have been here forever I trust them,'" Carson said.
We did some digging and found out Putt has a law degree from Mississippi College. Also, in 2012 she won the Southern League Woman of Excellence award and was a National Women's Executive of the Year nominee.
At Rack'em Up, one Suns fan was disappointed.
"Yeah it's a business but it's your hometown you are stealing from," said Daniel Winkles.
We reached out to both the pharmacy and the team. The Suns said it's an ongoing investigation and have no further comment. The pharmacy group is also declining comment.
Putt is charged with grand theft between $5,000 and $9,999.
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