Former President Of Molino Business Charged With $76K Alleged Theft

December 23, 2017

A former president of a Molino business has been charged with allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the company.

Scott Allen Taylor, 41, was arrested at his home Friday afternoon on multiple felony charges for the alleged crimes against Hendrix Service Center in Molino.  He was charged with fraud, grand theft and uttering a forged instrument. He was released from the Escambia County Jail late Friday night on a $25,000 bond, according to jail records.

According to a warrant affidavit, Taylor is accused of stealing $76,483.09 from Hendrix Service Center between September 2016 and August 2017. Taylor was president of the corporation at the time and owned 49 shares of the company while the vice president owned 51 shares.

The majority owner reported to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office that Taylor opened an account without his knowledge and by forging his signature at Hancock Bank.  Documentation provided to the bank showed the Hendrix account address to be Taylor’s home address on Cocoa Drive in Pensacola, not the business location on Highway 29 in Molino. Taylor was the only person authorized to write checks and withdraw money from the account.

The victim told deputies that some of the direct deposits to the business were being deposited into the new account.

According to the warrant affidavit, Taylor was responsible for processing invoices and payments from an extended warranty company, and he diverted direct deposit payments into the Hancock Bank account. The affidavit states a total of $72,501.72 was deposited into the unauthorized account, and Taylor was reimbursed $3.981.37 for a total of $76,483.09.  Investigators found that the majority of the purchases from the account appeared to be personal expenses to several restaurants, Disney resorts, Disney tickets, Google, PlayStation, barber shops and other stores.

Taylor resigned from the Hendrix board of directors prior to being questioned by investigators, the documents state. He is due in court in January.

Comments

14 Responses to “Former President Of Molino Business Charged With $76K Alleged Theft”

  1. TW Thompson on December 26th, 2017 1:58 pm

    This is terrible news for Randy and hopes sake. I am so sorry. They are good Christian people and do not deserve any of this. Hard to believe that greed can take over sometimes. My family and I have done business with them for years and of course it has stopped in the past 10 years or so. But I promise after all of this is settled we along with a whole lot more people in the community will be back! It’s been a long time coming, God bless you Randy and Hope

  2. Dudley Herrington on December 26th, 2017 8:48 am

    Well, I sure am GLAD Randy and Hope found out what was happening. They are MY Next Door Neighbors, and you could NEVER find any better FRIENDS than they are. I have watched them Raise 3 boys in Church, and they are Men now,
    Good Men !! It is a BLESSIN to have good Neighbors !!
    I sure Hope this does not hurt their Business.

  3. Wilykyote on December 24th, 2017 10:29 pm

    Yeah…..I also had noticed a change in customer relations after
    Wilbur left . He was the heart & soul of the business…..always
    a friendly helpful attitude that apparently hadn’t rubbed-off enough
    on the young guns. Have bought many pieces of equipment and
    service and parts from Wilber and continued with Randy & Scott. Pulling
    wrenches & selling parts was their skill-set……liking his customers and
    selling himself was Wilber’s . I begrudging go elsewhere now…..it’d be nice
    if Randy could reconstitute the Hendrix attitude and legacy……and I’m guessing
    I’m not the only one.

  4. molino jim on December 24th, 2017 9:18 am

    @ Clara. You may be right. I know that most business partners set up a seperate checking account for the business that only they can write checks on. Well it would seem a little odd it was just being used for his personal pocket money. I feel this has been going on for a longer time than this shows. I had some dealings with Scott and it took months to get the refund on a piece of equipment that had a total recall from the builder. after a while I called Toro and was told the refunds had been mailed to the dealers. Each time I ask Scott there was some excuse about why my account had not been credited back for the amount. After long last it was.Sorry for Randy and the rest of the crew.

  5. Trocarman on December 24th, 2017 8:44 am

    Clara, putting money that was not his into his personal checking account and forgery are prima facia evidence.

  6. Les Bridges on December 24th, 2017 8:06 am

    I’m pretty sure if there was any doubt as to his innocence Randy would not have pressed charges. I stopped going there a long time ago because of Scott’s attitude. I’ll be returning now as a faithful customer. It is a dark hour for Randy and Hope but this will work to their good; watch and see.

  7. Joy Bryant on December 24th, 2017 6:40 am

    Shame Shame – Carolyn Hendrix is a neighbor of mine and I know her heart is broken – GREED!!

  8. biscuit on December 24th, 2017 12:53 am

    Mr. Wilber wouldn’t be happy with alot of stuff there, not just scott.

  9. Al buchanan on December 23rd, 2017 7:29 pm

    I thought Scott was an ok guy but…… Randy and Hope were always more honest and sincere Christians and the rest of the crew. Great people that work there just greed got in Scotts way. Honest people run this show always been good to me.

  10. Clara on December 23rd, 2017 4:09 pm

    Geeeez!! Not saying he did or didn’t but pretty sure you should assume he’s innocent until proven guilty

  11. BILL on December 23rd, 2017 12:18 pm

    SEE WHAT GREED DOES TO YOU .NOW LETS SEE WHAT GREED GETS YOU . LET ME ANSWER THAT FOR YOU [ NOTHING] BUT TROUBLE !!!!!!!!!!!!

  12. molino jim on December 23rd, 2017 9:37 am

    Shame on you Scott. to do this to your family and friends. jim

  13. Sage2 on December 23rd, 2017 9:16 am

    Sad situation! However, honesty and pregnancy are just alike…, you are or you aren’t!

  14. Willy on December 23rd, 2017 9:06 am

    It’s amazing how pure greed takes over a life. Hope he takes responsibility while he pays for his crime.