Woman Embezzled $190,000 From Bartow Business, Police Say
Hilka Standridge, 42, of Lakeland, was stealing money from Flavors from Florida for seven years, authorities said. The money went toward a gamut of personal expenses, according to the company, including dance lessons, scuba diving and paint ball trips as well as grocery shopping and phone bills.
“She appeared to be funding a whole lifestyle,” said Matthew Overholser, the company’s general manager.
The company fired Standridge after the transactions were uncovered in May 2010 and a lengthy criminal investigation began, Overholser said. Deputies booked her June 8 into the Polk County Jail on charges of first-degree grand theft and scheming to defraud.
Standridge, of 3721 Paula Court, in Lakeland, was released that day after paying a $30,000 bond.
David Carmichael, Standridge’s lawyer, said the investigation’s complete findings have not been filed in court and declined to comment on the allegations in detail.
“If she did something wrong, she’s certainly going to be accountable for her actions,” he said. “But right now we’re not certain what they’re alleging.”
Flavors from Florida, at 203 Bartow Municipal Airport, develops and supplies flavors for drink and food manufacturers. Publix, Kroger and the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group are among their customers, Overholser said.
Standridge began at the company as a secretary about 20 years ago and worked her way to office manager, Overholser said, a position that gave her access to company money.
“That’s the thing that’s most disappointing,” he said. “Because of her long tenure, she did have a high amount of trust we put in her.”
The company discovered the inconsistencies in its books in May 2010, he said, after an anonymous employee reported them.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office complaint affidavit said the company conducted a “surprise audit” and then confronted Standridge.
Executives asked whether she could explain six checks she wrote, five to dance schools.
“Umm, uhh, oh crap. No, I cannot,” Standridge responded, the affidavit said. “It was so long ago, I don’t really remember. they may have been donations, however, I don’t remember.”
The fraudulent transactions began in 2004, the affidavit said. Because of the statute of limitations on theft, investigators can charge her only for alleged transactions made between June 2006 and May 2010.
“Everybody makes mistakes. This is a pretty big mistake,” Overholser said. “She had plenty of time to come back and make it right. But she didn’t.”
[ Matthew Pleasant can be reached at or 863-802-7590. ]
food manufacturers, grocery shopping, kroger, overholser