Over $100,000 Of Unopened Merchandise Pilfered And Sold To Area Pawnbrokers

An employee of GetFPV.com ... a drone racing dealer in Sarasota, FL, has been arrested and charged with stealing over $100,000 in new parts from his employer and and selling them to area pawnbrokers.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune newspaper reports that 38-year-old Wendel Ardis Board III had been an inventory manager for the company. According to court documents, he has been charged with 89 counts of theft, 44 counts of dealing in stolen property, 44 counts of providing false ownership of pawned items, and one count of grand larceny over $100,000.

According to the report, GetFPV.com owner Tim Nilson said he first noticed missing property in February. The company deals in parts for specialized racing drones that are only available from a few places in the U.S. Some of the parts were found listed by an Ebay store connected with a local pawn shop. The parts were identified through unique brand names and serial numbers.

Board had signed the “Florida Pawnbroker Transaction Form” when he had sold the items to the pawnbrokers in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The form states that the property is not stolen, and that the seller is the rightful owner. Board gave the dealers his driver's license and submitted a right thumb print on the documents, according to court records.

In all, he made more than 60 transactions in Manatee County and 18 in Sarasota County, according to the report.

Assistant State Attorney Rebekah Bragg told the paper that much of the merchandise could be recovered.

The owner now no longer allows anyone to bring anything into or out of the building, according to the report.

FMI: www.jud12.flcourts.org