The Lady Lake Police Department is requesting the public’s help in locating the former general manager of Sweet Tomatoes, suspected of stealing $18,000 from the popular restaurant.
Victor M. Garner is wanted on a felony warrant charging him with embezzlement.
If you have any information that could assist in locating Garner, you are asked to contact Detective Charles Gehrsitz at (352) 751-1542.
Garner had been put on paid leave this past May when deposits that were supposed to be made were found to be missing. He denied everything and later turned in his key to the restaurant.
After examining spreadsheets, it was determined that beginning in October 2015, Garner had begun taking money from the restaurant’s bank deposits. He then used money from current deposits to cover the shortages for money he had stolen from past deposits. Records showed that Garner was continually reproducing deposit slips and deposit bag receipts for deposits done by other managers. Ten deposits for April 2016 have no record of being picked up by Garda Security, the company Sweet Tomatoes used for money pickup, and the money was never deposited in the bank.
Over several days in March when Garner went on a work-related trip to Houston, Texas, all deposits were on time and were for the correct amount.
