A local newspaper recently published a story accusing state employees of allegedly stealing money meant for charity. They made their cash by selling the brass that’s ejected out of a firearm after its shot. They collected brass from at least one range operated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Those funds were supposed to go to a state youth hunting program.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune investigative reporter Lee Williams broke the story.
Williams said the signs are clear when you go to shoot at the Cecil M. Webb Shooting Range in Charlotte County.
“There are signs at the range that literally say - that thank the patrons for donating the brass because the money will be going – the signs falsely claim - to youth hunting,” he said. “And that was a lie.”
Williams’ story published on June 24. It alleged Webb’s chief range safety officer Glenn Nickell and his boss John Weatherholt were pocketing the money from the leftover brass. Another man who wasn’t a state employee – Glenn Demoss – also allegedly cashed in.
A source told Williams the men had been making money off the brass for at least eight years. How much money they made is hard to say right now.
Williams received documents showing earnings over a two year period from one recycler. For example, Williams said Weatherholt received $12,000 during that time.
That’s from one recycler. Williams said there’s evidence accumulating that the men visited others.
Williams said some money went to the charity, but it doesn’t add up with how much the men received.
“If you compare the number of visits to just this one recycler compared to what they were paying into the charity they don’t match up,” he said. “And a lot of these payments they were receiving were in cash, too.”
The story prompted action by the FWC’s Inspector General’s office. Williams said he’s conducting a criminal investigation.
Since the story ran, Glenn Nickell was fired. John Weatherholdt resigned. He’s currently on administrative leave.
