For Immediate Release

February 22, 2013
MOORE HAVEN - A yearlong investigation by agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Sebring Field Office, has culminated in the arrests of three men charged with scheming to defraud Glades Electric Cooperative, Glades County, Fla.   William Lewis Romine, 57, of Moore Haven, Fla., James Robert Kelley, 44, of Cape Coral, Fla., and Jeffrey Rand Friedman, 52, of Ft. Myers, Fla., turned themselves into the Glades County Jail earlier today. 

A criminal investigation began when FDLE received a complaint from Glades Electric Cooperative about the theft of more than $200,000.00 from 2008 through 2011.   Romine, a former employee of the cooperative, allegedly used his position to orchestrate the theft of $211,419.89 from the company with the assistance of Kelley, a salesman for Wallace International Trucks, and Friedman, the owner of Ft. Myers based Performance Plus.
Romine is charged with grand theft in the first degree, organized scheme to defraud, dealing in stolen property and two counts of criminal conspiracy.
Kelley and Freidman have both been charged with grand theft in the first degree, organized scheme to defraud and two counts of criminal conspiracy.
Glades County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the State Attorneys Office of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit also participated in the investigation.
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger, Keith Kameg or Steve Arthur
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001