DeBary, Florida — When a DeBary doctor recently tried to use his business’ credit card and it was declined, he knew something was wrong. He just didn’t know how wrong — until an investigation by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the doctor’s former office manager had ripped him off for more than $100,000.
The Sheriff’s Office has obtained an arrest warrant charging the ex-employee, 40-year-old Tisha Krutsinger, with Organized Scheme to Defraud and Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card. However, after nearly a week of searching and Krutsinger nowhere to be found, the Sheriff’s Office is turning to the public for help in finding her.
As office manager since August 2011, Krutsinger was entrusted with the day-to-day financial operations of Dr. Humberto Dominguez’ family practice in DeBary. But it wasn’t until late May when he realized something was amiss.
After his credit card was declined, the doctor called Krutsinger to find out what was going on. She told her boss that it was probably “just a mistake” and that she would get it taken care of. Later that day, Krutsinger called the doctor back to let him know that everything was “fixed” with the credit card. However, when the doctor asked her for the account’s access number, Krutsinger claimed that she didn’t have it. That’s when Dominguez decided to contact his credit card company himself. What he discovered was that Krutsinger had made arrangements to have her own credit card issued and that her card also was linked to the business’ account.
Unbeknownst to the doctor, Krutsinger had been charging large sums of money and then paying the bills with the doctor’s personal bank account. When he confronted Krutsinger, she admitted using the credit card for personal purchases and promised to re-pay all of the money she had spent. The doctor then told her to turn in her work keys and leave.
Krutsinger later sent text messages to the doctor asking him not to press charges against her. But that wasn’t the end of the problems. Mere minutes after Krutsinger was escorted out of the office, the doctor learned that the mortgage payments on his office building hadn’t been paid for several months and foreclosure proceedings had been initiated.
The doctor contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report the thefts on May 27, 2014, the same day that he fired Krutsinger.
Through the ensuing investigation, the Sheriff’s Office learned that Krutsinger also had written herself an extra payroll check – that she cashed -and also took cash advances out on the doctor’s credit card. According to reports, just prior to getting fired, Krutsinger had also altered some of the bank statements in an attempt to conceal her activities.
Including the phony paycheck, the cash advances and the related fees, the Sheriff’s Office uncovered fraudulent charges totaling $136,149. On July 9, 2014, the Sheriff’s Office presented their findings to Circuit Court Judge Margaret Hudson, who issued the arrest warrant.
Investigators have been searching for Krutsinger ever since. Her last known whereabouts was Longwood, Florida.
Judge Hudson has ordered her held on $255,000 bond.
While investigators are still poring over financial records, they’ve confirmed that Krutsinger spent some of the money to pay her cell phone, auto insurance, car repairs, home cable and orthodontic bills. Additionally, she also bought weekly tanning sessions, boat rentals, prescription drugs, theme park tickets and a plane ticket to Kansas City. She also used some of the money to pay her housekeeper.
Krutsinger may have ties to other areas in Florida, or possibly may have left the state all together.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Krutsinger is asked to call the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida, toll-free, at (888) 277-TIPS. You can also text a tip to Crime Stoppers by texting “TIP231 plus your message” to CRIMES. Individuals who provide information to Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of up to $1,000.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said they appreciate any help the public can offer and are encouraging citizens to share Krutsinger’s photo on social media.
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