BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — A supply company manager in Hernando was arrested and charged with grand theft and organized fraud after two septic companies reported him for payment discrepancies, law enforcement said.
Michael Johnson, 38, is the manager at Coast Pump and Water Technologies in Brooksville. Johnson had allegedly been ordering extra materials and charging his clients for materials they never received, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
The victim from one septic company was informed by another of what Johnson was doing. After reviewing past invoices from Coast Pump and Water Technologies, the victim found overcharges on supplies he had ordered. That's when he reported it to deputies.
The victim from the other septic company recently confronted Johnson, according to the sheriff's office. Johnson allegedly told him, "I must have fat fingers."
The two companies reported initial financial losses of $2,270 and $3,360, respectively. Both companies told deputies they anticipate finding more discrepancies as they review past invoices.
Hernando County deputies conducted a search warrant at Coast Pump and Water Technologies and arrested Johnson at the scene.
Deputies reported that after he was read his Miranda rights, Johnson admitted to purposefully overcharging and underdelivering materials to compensate for a product shortage at the facility. However, detectives noted that he repeatedly changed his account of how overcharges happened and were billed during questioning.
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Johnson has been transported to the Hernando County Detention Center with a $5,000 bond.
The case remains active and is pending further investigation. Hernando County requests anyone with information on this case report to the tip line by calling 1-866-990-TIPS (8477) or submitting it online.
