Joshua Chenault Hall, 39, of Ave Maria, was sentenced to two years in prison followed by 10 years of probation for one count of First Degree Grand Theft. The defendant had been employed as a property manager by the Heron’s Glen Recreation District (HGRD) and stole more than $271,500 while working for them which included actual funds and utilizing money from HGRD in other ways. The Herons Glen Recreation District is a governmental entity, recognized by Florida law as a Special District. Special Districts are governed by an elected board of supervisors or commissioners and serve a specific geographical area.
The crime was discovered in September 2016, when a manager with HGRD contacted the Lee County Sheriff’s Office regarding more than $100,000 in unaccounted-for funds. A forensic accounting done of the records determined that between October 1, 2012 and June 22, 2016 the defendant took the approximately $271,500, which included contracting for services to be performed on his personal home for which HGRD was charged. The amount also involved Hall opening a credit card account used for his own benefit but paid for by his employer.
The plea agreement includes the defendant paying restitution of $167,034 to the insurance company for HGRD who paid out on the theft and $4,079.13 directly to HGRD. The defendant paid back approximately $100,000 prior to sentencing. He entered a plea of no contest to the charges.
Assistant State Attorney Jessica Horowitz of our Economic Crimes Unit handled the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
ssyoen@sao20.org
239-533-1125