Former Siesta Key hotel manager arrested after allegedly stealing $100k from resort
A former Siesta Key hotel manager faces fraud charges after allegedly stealing $110,000 from a top-rated resort, Sarasota deputies said.
Billy Vann Prater Jr., 39, was arrested on May 21 after deputies said he used his status as the Siesta Key Palms Resort manager at 1800 Stickney Point Road to give free rooms or cancel rooms, while pocketing the money.
The resort's owner met with Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies on Nov. 26 to file a fraud report. He told deputies that he had discovered theft from the resort by his former office manager following a financial audit.
Riley Hudson, Prater's attorney, declined to provide a comment about the case but stated that all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
In case you missed it: Caught on camera: Bradenton traffic dispute escalates to gunfire and criminal charges
In addition to using his status to give free rooms, Prater hired a handyman to do jobs on the property, but it was unclear what work was done and if the amount paid was inflated, the owner told deputies.
Prater also committed FEMA fraud by adding extra stays to FEMA-approved accounts even though the guests didn't stay those nights, deputies said. The information was forwarded to FEMA, and the owner was left paying FEMA $7,003.
A financial audit found that the money was taken from the end of 2023 through 2024 when it was discovered.
Prater bonded out of jail on May 22 for $50,000. He has a criminal arraignment hearing on June 20.
Melissa Pérez-Carrillo covers breaking news and public safety for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Reach out at mperezcarrillo@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ex-Siesta Key hotel manager arrested for alleged $100k resort theft
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Black America Web
10 hours ago
- Black America Web
Fat Joe Sued For $20M By Ex-Hypeman, Claims Rapper Had Sex With Minors
Source: Al Bello / Getty Fat Joe is being sued for $20 million by his former hypeman, who has lobbed a litany of sordid claims against the Bronx rapper. The lawsuitalleges that Joe, born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, participated in sex acts with several minors in their teens, amongst other wild claims. As initially reported by Variety , Terrance 'T.A.' Dixon filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York against the 'Lean Back: rapper on Thursday, June 19. Dixon was reportedly Joe's hypeman for over 15 years, giving him front row view of the illicit behavior he described in his 157-page lawsuit. It's worth noting that Dixon's lawyer is Tyrone Blackburn, the same man who is representing Lil Rodney in his lawsuit againt Sean 'Diddy' Combs, which also includes some explosive charges against the disgraced mogul. However, Blackburn has developed a rep for representing clients with over-the-top claims that aren't necessarily credible. But Dixon claims that over the years Fat Joe coerced him in over 4.000 sexuals acts to keep him in good 'standing within the Enterprise. According to Dixon he was pressured 'into humiliating situations, including sex acts performed under duress and surveillance, accompanied by threats of abandonment in foreign countries if [he] refused compliance.' The most egregious claim in the lawsuit is its detailing of Fat Joe allegedly participating sex acts with three Jane Does—one 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds. Also included in the RICO-claiming lawsuit are longtime Fat Joe associates. Pete 'Pistol Pete' Torres and Richard 'Rich Player' Jospitre, as well as Roc Nation. Dixon's lawsuit arrives after he and Blackburn were sued by Fat Joe back in April for slander after alleging on social media that the rapper flew a 16-year-old girl across state lines to engage in sexual intercourse. Joe maintains that Dixon and Blackburn are basically trying to extort him, allegedly. Fat Joe is being represented by Joe Tacopina, a criminal attorney who has become famed in Hip-Hop circles after representing A$AP Rocky, who acquitted of gun charges and who past clients include Meek Mill, and Donald Trump. In reponse to the lawsuit against Fat Joe, Tacopino told Variety , 'The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation — a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations.' Needless to say, the social media peanut gallery has been going off since news of the lawsuit broke. This story is developing. Fat Joe Sued For $20M By Ex-Hypeman, Claims Rapper Had Sex With Minors was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Siesta Key resort manager accused of stealing $110K from hotel
SIESTA KEY, Fla. (WFLA) — A former Siesta Key resort manager was arrested last month after deputies said he stole $110,000 from a top-rated resort. Billy Prater was arrested on May 21 after the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said he used his status as Siesta Key Palms Resort manager to give free rooms or cancel rooms in the system and pocketed the money. The resort's owner met with deputies on Nov. 26 to file a fraud report after he discovered that his former officer manager was stealing from his business following a financial audit, an arrest affidavit said. Investigators said another part of Prater's scheme was to hire a handyman to complete jobs around the property. The report showed that Prater paid the handyman through CashApp, PayPal and company payroll. Deputies said it was unclear what work the handyman did and if the amount he was paid was inflated. 'You done messed up': Wanted man who challenged Polk deputies on Facebook to catch him arrested by Lakeland police An audit showed that Prater stole about $110,470.19 from the end of 2023 through 2024, the report said. Prater is also accused of committing FEMA fraud by adding extra stays to FEMA-approved accounts, even though the guests didn't stay those nights. The information was forwarded to FEMA, and the owner was forced to pay FEMA $7,003, the report showed. According to court records, Prater bonded out of jail on May 22 for $50,000. He has a criminal arraignment hearing scheduled for June 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Pc sacked for ‘aggressive' arrest is appealing against dismissal, force says
An ex-police officer who was sacked because of his 'aggressive' detention of a 15-year-old boy is appealing against the disciplinary ruling against him, his former force has confirmed. Lorne Castle was dismissed by Dorset Police after an independent disciplinary tribunal found that he had committed gross misconduct in relation to the arrest of the youth in Bournemouth town centre on January 27 2024. The ex-police constable had admitted misconduct in relation to breaching the standards of professional behaviour relating to authority, respect and courtesy, conduct and use of force but denied gross misconduct. A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed that the force had been notified by Mr Castle of his intention to appeal. He said: 'We can confirm we have received notification of Lorne Castle's intention to appeal. 'As the formal appeal process is under way, we are unable to comment further.' Following the disciplinary hearing in May, the force said that Mr Castle had acted 'inappropriately' as he detained the teenager after receiving reports of two assaults in the seaside town. The force said in a statement: 'Pc Castle was seen to use unnecessary and inappropriate words towards the boy and place both his hands on his throat. 'The panel found that Pc Castle failed to act with self-control, did not treat the boy with courtesy or respect. 'His shouting, swearing, finger pointing, taking hold of the boy's face and throat and suggested use of leg restraints was not necessary, reasonable or proportionate.' A video clip of the incident, released by the force, shows the officer tackling the boy to the ground before taking hold of the teenager's face and throat while repeatedly swearing and shouting at him. The boy can be heard shouting and crying 'what have I done' and 'what did I do' before the officer shouts 'stop screaming like a little b****, do you understand that? Shut up'. The teenager also screams 'my f****** neck, get off me, I don't want you on me', while Mr Castle is on top of him. The officer later shouts 'stop resisting or I'm gonna smash you, do you understand?' and says the boy is being arrested on suspicion of assault. Speaking on LBC radio, Mr Castle, a 46-year-old father-of-three said that he had received thousands of messages of support. But he said that he felt that people were questioning his nature despite previously having '10 years of exemplary service' and having previously received a bravery award from the Humane Society.
