Ex-manager accused of taking $700,000

A former general manager of White Ford in Chiefland has been accused of taking more than $700,000 from the business during the past 12 years.

A sworn complaint has been filed against Donald James Barrett, 64, of Alachua, accusing him of grand theft. State Attorney Bill Cervone said his office is reviewing the complaint, which was filed by the Chiefland Police Department.

"Investigations of this sort can get very complicated," Cervone said. "We are not likely to have a decision anytime soon" on how to proceed with the case.

According to police, Barrett was fired from the dealership on June 11. Barrett had worked for the dealership for about 12 years and was the general manager and 20 percent owner of the company when he left.

Company officials told police that following Barrett's departure, an attorney and a certified public accountant hired by the dealership spent more than two months reviewing Barrett's administration and determined that he "had facilitated long-term fraud, embezzlement and theft."

Police said an audit showed multiple items worth an estimated $300,000 were missing from the dealership, including money, vehicles, trailers, fuel, golf carts, a generator and items used for auto racing.

According to police, the audit showed that Barrett's son, Ralph Barrett, received $407,291 from the dealership's payroll during the past decade, even though most of the dealership's employees told auditors they had never seen Ralph Barrett at the business.

Dealership officials declined to comment on the case. Barrett did not immediately respond to a telephone message left at his home.