Integrity and Ethics

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St Johns Sheriff David Shoar unaware of $700,000 embezzelment over past five years.
November 20, 2018

Raye Annette Brutnell, former executive assistant to Sheriff Perry and Sheriff David Shoar, most recently Shoar’s appointee as Director of Finance for the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office, has surrendered herself to the custody of the Flagler County Jail this morning after she was informed that a warrant had been issued for her arrest. Brutnell just turned 47-years-old last month and has worked for the sheriff’s office since March 5, 1991. In 2005, Brutnell received a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Flagler College.

A compilation of charges allege Brutnell orchestrated a continuing scheme to defraud more than $700,000 from St Johns County operating funds as well as a benevolent fund for officers of the agency and their families.



Brutnell admitted to the fraud and claimed she did it because of the “financial strain” her family was facing, even though she had just received a $2,700 pay raise and was earning $108,885.00 per year.

Her husband, Mark E Brutnell, is a Director with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement assigned as Supervisory Special Agent in charge of the Tampa Regional Operations Center. He was employed by FDLE on December 15, 1995 and earns $116,500.02 per year, according to the State of Florida People First personnel information system.

She says she used the money for car and mortgage payments, her father’s nursing home, and daily spending, according to the affidavit. Brutnell allegedly told investigators she did not realize her “spending addiction” or the “magnitude of the fraud”.


Brutnell is facing 52 counts each of forging bank checks, uttering a forged bank check, and official misconduct, in addition to a charge each of grand theft, organized scheme to defraud, criminal use of personal identification, scheme to defraud a financial institution, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. She also faces two counts of criminal use of personal identification information.




We know that the alleged ongoing fraud dates back to October 2013. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office was called in under a mutual aid agreement to conduct an independent investigation, which led to these charges. Governor Rick Scott has assigned 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brian Haas to prosecute the case. Brutnell is represented by Jacksonville attorney Hank Coxe.

More details will be forthcoming once records requested from Shoar’s office are made available.

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My thoughts go out to Mark, who I'm sure was floored by the incident and comes at the beginning of the holidays. While the criminal activity is certainly not justified, its just sad all around.

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So, Mr Brutnell never noticed 700K over 5 years. Interesting.

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So, Mr Brutnell never noticed 700K over 5 years. Interesting.

I’m pretty sure I would notice an extra $700,000.00 in my household budget! Dear God...

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Mark: Try being more aware of EVERYTHING around you.....You rubber stamp reports as an SAS on a Homicide investigation and don't notice an extra 12k a month to your house hold budget. (Note to self: Do not allow mark to back you up on anything LE related)

Raye: Try not to commit multiple felonies.

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Mark: Try being more aware of EVERYTHING around you.....You rubber stamp reports as an SAS on a Homicide investigation and don't notice an extra 12k a month to your house hold budget. (Note to self: Do not allow mark to back you up on anything LE related)

The only thing that made RR's investigation a "homicide" was RR's lies. St.Johns admitted to their mistakes, FDLE did not. Yes, Mark allowed himself to be pulled down a deep dark hole. Nothing about that situation was a homicide just innuendo and some out right lies.

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my thoughts go out to mark, who i'm sure was floored by the incident and comes at the beginning of the holidays. While the criminal activity is certainly not justified, its just sad all around.

oh bullshit

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Is that how she paid for all that plastic surgery? She flaunted her lifestyle also. Mark seemed to bask in it also.

And COME ON NOW, who the hell wouldn't notice an extra $700,000 being spent by their wife!!! So either Mark is an idiot or knew, and if he's an idiot he's not qualified to be a Special Agent in Charge of a region.

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This is a super egregious crime, working for a S.O. and stealing money from County Servants and the community all while hiding under the veil of the Sheriff's Office and being married to a high ranking Cop to boot. WOW.

So can anyone here under any state salary say they wouldn't notice $700K in money being spent in their household? Just stop and absorb that amount for a second. That's almost three-quarters of a million dollars in 5 years.

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He makes 116K a year
She made almost 100K

She stole an average of about 140K each of the 5 years in theft. That is about 40 percent of their total income for 5 years..Hmmm