A Villager has been ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution in connection with a fraudulent golf cart sale.
Leonard Peter Fletcher, 51, of the Village of Lynnhaven, pleaded no contest earlier this month in Sumter County Court to charges of fraud, grand theft and exploitation of the elderly. He has been placed on probation for five years and has been ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution to the victim in $400 monthly installments.
Fletcher was working as a salesman at One Stop Golf Carts in Wildwood when a customer inquired about a custom golf cart, according to an affidavit of probable cause from the Wildwood Police Department. Fletcher told the customer he could assist with the purchase of the custom cart. The customer provided Fletcher with a $15,000 check and then a $6,000 check. Both checks were deposited at Citizens First Bank. The checks were made out to Fletcher.
The customer never got his golf cart and Fletcher stopped communicating with him. The customer called the police.
A detective went to the golf cart store where a sales manager confirmed that Fletcher never created an invoice or documentation in connection with the purchase.
The sales manager called Fletcher, who said, “The deal was made outside of work and had nothing to do with work.” The sales manager told Fletcher he needed to return the money. Fletcher said he did not have the money and could not return it.