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Company Manager Charged In Embezzlement

PETER MASA / News Channel 8

Andrew J. Casale, center, was arrested on charges of embezzlement by Tampa police.

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 14, 2007

Updated: 09/14/2007 05:04 pm

Photos From Casale's Arrest

TAMPA - For five years, Vivian Reeves of Reeves Import Motor Cars trusted Andrew J. Casale, her chief financial officer, as if he were a relative, police said.

Then an independent audit of the dealership's records found a number of suspicious transactions and thousands of dollars missing, police said.

Confronted, Casale told Reeves he was sorry, and she fired him, according to police.

Casale, 38, repeated "I'm sorry" again Friday to a group of reporters as Tampa police led him into a patrol car shortly after his arrest.

He is charged with felony organized fraud, racketeering, six counts of grand theft over $20,000 and 100 counts of third-degree grand theft. He was to be booked into Orient Road Jail.

The 106 grand-theft charges are for each check he wrote that totaled more than a half-million dollars from the dealership, Sgt. Paul Mumford said.

"We believe there's much more, but finding it is another thing," Mumford said.

Casale, who lives in Tampa, earned a six-figure salary at the dealership at 11333 N. Florida Ave. that specializes in Audis, Porches, Maseratis, Hummers and other high-end vehicles, police said.

He told police he used the stolen money to feed a gambling problem, which includes betting online as well as placing bets through a bookie several times a month, Detective Lela Davis said.

"He says he can't control it," said Davis, who did not know the scope of Casale's debts.

Casale joined the business in April 2002, and the embezzlement continued until Reeves fired him in July and police began investigating, Davis said.

Casale would write checks for petty cash – mostly for $1,000 or more – and pocket the money, Davis said. He also would add on to a bonus checks for employees; for example, he would add $2,000 to a $40,000 bonus check and keep the extra, Davis said.

Reeves became suspicious after Casale refused to let her hire an additional employee to help him in his work, police said.

While he was out of town, she hired an outside firm to conduct a forensic audit in which it was determined "there were some improprieties by Mr. Casale," Mumford said. Reeves fired him upon his return.

Davis did not know where he had gone, but said he often visits the Bahamas.

"He gambles on most trips he goes on," she said.

Casale is married and has two children. Davis said his wife "knew that he was gambling but not to the degree that he was."

Casale told police he could pay the money back over time, but Davis said if he is convicted of the charges that would be unlikely.

"He was very remorseful, especially for Mrs. Reeves," Mumford said. "He's very disappointed in himself for letting her down."

News Channel 8 reporter Samara Sodos contributed to this report. Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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