Firefighters Benevolent Fund treasurer arrested

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Thomas Rhoades, 43, for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund.

The investigation began after the president of the Benevolent Fund reported the theft earlier this month. Detectives found that Rhoades, who was the treasurer of the nonprofit, made numerous unauthorized in-branch & ATM withdrawals from the Benevolent Fund’s high-yield savings and business checking accounts, totaling $221,507.58 between February 2011 and September 2013.

Rhoades is charged with one count of felony scheme to defraud and one count of grand theft in excess of $100,000.

The Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund was established in 1996 to assist Sarasota County firefighters in times of crisis. The nonprofit also pays for firefighter training programs and other outreach projects in the community.

Contact Nolan Peterson at [email protected]