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Guy Thompson, Former Milton Mayor And United Way Boss, Headed To Federal Prison
January 18, 2020
Guyland Thompson, former Milton mayor and formerexecutive director of the United Way of Santa Rosa County, was sentenced Friday to 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion.
Thompson, 65, of Milton, was ordered to forfeit $221,868.28 seized from his bank accounts and pay an additional monetary judgment of $430,132.33.
Thompson pled guilty last May to 20 counts of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion stemming from his embezzlement of funds from United Way of Santa Rosa County while he ran the organization. Between at least 2011 and 2018, Thompson embezzled over $650,000 from the charity. He used his position and access to the charity’s records and bank accounts to steal money from the charity for years by conducting a series of complicated financial transactions to cover his tracks. He also made false representations to board members, employees, bank tellers, and United Way Worldwide to keep his fraud undetected for so long.
Thompson then failed to report the extra income from his embezzlement scheme to the IRS.
“These crimes affected not only an outstanding charitable organization, but also the many individuals who depended on multiple nonprofits to help them deal with day-to-day challenges. This defendant violated the trust of all these innocent victims, and this sentence reflects the harm he did to so many,” said Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
As a result of Thompson’s crimes, United Way of Santa Rosa County lost its charter with the international organization and was forced to close. The restitution Thompson was ordered to pay will be divided between United Way of Santa Rosa County and 15 local charities that previously had been supported by it.
The United Way of Escambia County later expanded their service area to include Santa Rosa County and changed the organization’s name to the United Way of West Florida.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Comments
7 Responses to “Guy Thompson, Former Milton Mayor And United Way Boss, Headed To Federal Prison”
So when is he making restitution for the additional $430 000? Probably not ever – after he gets through playing golf at the federal country club and had time to hide his assets he will claim he is broke, Stealing is stealing,,,,,,
For my 30 + years teaching in Santa Rosa County schools, employees at all levels were preserved into donating to United Way. Politicians support each other’s causes.
He should be sentenced the length of time anyone else gets for the same crime. He is a thief. Stole from the needy, all because of greed. Plus, he should be sent off to another prison, and not one locally. You sent him to the Country Club. I will guarantee you, that he stole well over a million dollars. The onset of possible dementia makes it hard for him to remember. It is all setting in his wife’s bank account, or another family members.
This should make one question the status of Milton’s treasury while Mr. Thompson was Mayor. Mr. Thompson was once recalled as an upstanding member of the community…..such a shame. Look at how his community has suffered as a result of his deception and greed. Frankly, the tears he shed were the result of being caught and his punishment is a mere slap on the hand.
Perfect candidate for a political career!
I have yet to understand why Charitable organizations (and small businesses) do not have annual audits.to uncover any questionable situations. A CPA isn’t always necessary, only someone who does accounting and is familiar with accounting practices.. I personally have done annual audits for various organizations and small businesses and have uncovered a few embezzlement situations that would have been much worse if they let it go on for years. Annual audits certainly make sense to me.
You can’t trust anyone these days except yourself. To many people lie easily these days and have no morals. This saddens me, because a man should still treat his word as his bond. So many thieves everywhere you turn, its a shame it really is. Very disappointed in leadership that took moral character building from parents.