Palm Harbor Man Accused Of Embezzling $92,000 From Local Charity

PALM HARBOR, FL — A 76-year-old Palm Harbor man has been charged with felony scheme to defraud after being accused of embezzling more than $92,000 from a charity he ran.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrested Walter Anderson of 2336 Malcolm Drive, Palm Harbor, following a complaint from the charity regarding missing money.

In 2002, Anderson was the executive director for FEAST (Food Emergency and Services) Food Pantry of Palm Harbor, a nonprofit organization that provides needy families in north Pinellas County with food and assistance. Located at 2255 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor, the FEAST Food Pantry was started in 1989 by Palm Harbor United Methodist Church.

The current president of FEAST, Jeanne Andrews, contacted the police after learning that the organization's bank account was short $92,000. When Andrews questioned Anderson, he admitted that he used the bank account for personal expenses and "reimbursed" himself for a loan he provided to FEAST.

Detectives interviewed Anderson who corroborated what the president told them. He said he used the funds for car repairs, to pay off his credit cards, to hire tree services and to pay for roofing repairs to his home.

He was arrested Friday and taken to the Pinellas County Jail and released on a $100,000 bond.