A longtime Lakeland city employee who was fired in April was arrested Dec. 16 and charged with embezzling more than $5,800 from the city.
Sontidra Thomas, city recorder and a 17-year Lakeland employee, lost her job April 6 for making five unauthorized personal rental car charges on her city-issued credit card over a period of two months.
The charges totaled $5,852.96.
She initially said she would repay the city with any interest and/or finance charges as soon as she got a reimbursement check from her insurance company.
The city’s complaint said she did not repay the funds, and she eventually stopped responding to the city’s repeated requests for the money.
