LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — A former manager of a Polk County animal clinic is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the business and leaving it on the brink of collapse, according to investigators.
Detectives said Emily Lorenzano, who managed TLC PetSnip for several years, diverted cash deposits and used the clinic’s credit cards for personal expenses. A forensic audit revealed nearly $94,000 in missing deposits and more than $2,000 in unauthorized purchases at Amazon and Walmart. Investigators said the money even went toward a kitchen remodel at her Lakeland home.
“When we first stepped in, [we] realized that we had bills that had not been paid for months,” said Shannon Medina, a board of director of the clinic.
She said the debt piled up quickly.
“Three hundred thousand dollars, we had to try and make arrangements with our pharmacy companies, anyone that was doing business with TLC that was not getting paid,” Medina explained.
The financial fallout forced the clinic to cut back services for families who relied on it for affordable care.
“We had to halt spays and neuters, halt wellness. We had to reorganize the vetting, getting the surgeons back, it was quite a bit to ride the ship,” Medina said.
Lorenzano is charged with grand theft over $20,000, fraudulent use of a credit card, and scheme to defraud over $50,000. In total, investigators said the clinic was deprived of more than $97,000.
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