Jeffery Crane faces money laundering charges after his former employer accused him of using company credit cards for trips and adult entertainment.
LARGO, Fla. — Largo-based Bluewater Studios says its former chief financial officer stole more than $2 million and used company credit cards for “high-end restaurants, hotels, flights, limousine services and adult entertainment establishments,” a court complaint says.
Jeffery Crane, 47, faces charges for money laundering, scheming to defraud and criminal use of personal ID info.
“What we were able to identify was about $2.4 million, which he stole from our investment accounts and our rolling accounts, which are usually used to pay bonuses to our employees, so he basically stole employee bonuses,” Bluewater Studios CEO Andy Latimer told 10 Investigates.
Court records say the alleged theft happened over several years and that Crane edited expense reports to cover his actions.
“When we discovered this, it was a deep hurt,” Latimer said. “It was a violation of trust. It was a true, deep betrayal.
Records allege Crane also stole from locally-based Gasparilla Pizza and real estate developer Selig Enterprises in Atlanta, where he was also serving as CFO. Investigators said Selig’s CEO was unaware that Crane had been stealing from them as well. Bluewater did not know Crane was serving as CFO for two companies.
“We can’t thank Largo PD enough for doing their part. And taking this investigation seriously and digging and finding all the facts, and we’re just looking forward to the day in court in which justice is finally served fully and that we see him in an orange jumpsuit,” Latimer said.
Crane has already bonded out of jail. The court complaint says Bluewater workers told officials that Crane admitted to stealing in front of multiple witnesses. 10 Investigates tried to reach Crane multiple times without success.
Emerald Morrow is an investigative reporter with 10 Tampa Bay News. Like her on Facebook. You can also email her at emorrow@10tampabay.com.