Saturday, January 31, 2009

The owners of four popular restaurants on the Key West Bight have accused an employee of swindling them out of a combined $14,000 last year.

Turtle Kraals, A&B Lobster House, Alonzo's Oyster Bar and the Half Shell Raw Bar allege the woman gradually withdrew $13,900 from the restaurants' bank accounts beginning in February 2008, according to a Key West Police Department report.

The woman has not been arrested or charged, as prosecutors have not reviewed the case, according to the Monroe County State Attorney's Office. The police report, taken Monday, is filed as an embezzlement case.

The withdrawals allegedly were made by the woman writing checks to herself and making deposits directly from the restaurant account into her own account, reports say.

Theresa Rothaus, director of operations for the businesses, told police that bank information from 2007 had been deleted from company computers, reports say. Rothaus declined to comment when reached by phone Friday.

An e-mail allegedly written by the suspect was included in the police report, in which she admits taking $2,128 in March and April.

"I am so sorry for what I have done," the e-mail said. "I was desperate and drowning and I always intended to put it back, but everything just spiraled out of control for me."

She wrote that she wants to pay the company back and "make it right," and asks that the company not involve the police. Rothaus told police the company wants to press charges, reports say.

The suspect could not be reached for comment.

alinhardt@keysnews.com