Putnam County, FL – Two Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies were fired and now face felony charges following an internal and criminal investigation that uncovered falsified timecards and thousands of dollars in unearned pay.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Michael Wells and Detective Elias Rivera were terminated earlier this month after an audit revealed “double-dipping” and leave-time abuse that cost the agency more than $9,000 in total.
The inquiry began in August after a supervisor noticed discrepancies on Wells’ timecard. Investigators found Wells claimed regular work hours on multiple days while simultaneously teaching at a law enforcement academy—work that was separately paid and not properly reported as leave. Records showed Wells allegedly failed to log 169 teaching hours since January 2024, leading to an estimated $6,522.49 loss to the department.
Following Wells’ firing on Oct. 6, a broader review uncovered similar issues with Detective Rivera. Investigators determined Rivera failed to record leave while working at least 16 off-duty security details during his regular shifts between March and September, resulting in $2,558.45 in losses. Rivera was terminated on Oct. 16.
Both cases have been forwarded to the state attorney’s office for prosecution on charges of felony grand theft and official misconduct.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said he was “deeply disappointed” by the findings, emphasizing that “no one is above the law” and that the actions “trampled public trust for personal gain.”
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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