A FORMER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WITH THE NORTH PORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAD EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST HER AFTER SHE RETURNED THE MONEY SHE HAD TAKEN IN 2009. AN EMAIL FROM CHAMBER PRESIDENT BILL WERDELL SAID THEY RECEIVED A CHECK FOR OVER $22,000, THE AMOUNT THAT WAS REPORTEDLY TAKEN BY 37 YEAR OLD LISA ROWE OF SARASOTA. THE CHAMBER DISCOVERED THE MISSING MONIES LAST MAY, FIVE MONTHS AFTER ROWE RESIGNED. INVESTIGATORS SAID SHE HAD DEPOSITED 29 CHECKS INTO HER CHECKING ACCOUNT IN PORT CHARLOTTE, POSSIBLY BY FORGING THE CHECKS. ROWE TURNED HERSELF IN LAST JULY AFTER THE CHAMBER PRESSED CHARGES. WERDELL SAID IN THE EMAIL THAT THE CHAMBER IS GLAD TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY PUT THIS BEHIND THEM AND PLACE ALL OF THEIR FOCUS AND RESOURCES ON CURRENT AND FUTURE EVENTS.
