Former Siesta Key hotel manager arrested after allegedly stealing $100k from resort
A former Siesta Key hotel manager faces fraud charges after allegedly stealing $110,000 from a top-rated resort, Sarasota deputies said.
Billy Vann Prater Jr., 39, was arrested on May 21 after deputies said he used his status as the Siesta Key Palms Resort manager at 1800 Stickney Point Road to give free rooms or cancel rooms, while pocketing the money.
The resort's owner met with Sarasota County Sheriff's Office deputies on Nov. 26 to file a fraud report. He told deputies that he had discovered theft from the resort by his former office manager following a financial audit.
Riley Hudson, Prater's attorney, declined to provide a comment about the case but stated that all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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In addition to using his status to give free rooms, Prater hired a handyman to do jobs on the property, but it was unclear what work was done and if the amount paid was inflated, the owner told deputies.
Prater also committed FEMA fraud by adding extra stays to FEMA-approved accounts even though the guests didn't stay those nights, deputies said. The information was forwarded to FEMA, and the owner was left paying FEMA $7,003.
A financial audit found that the money was taken from the end of 2023 through 2024 when it was discovered.
Prater bonded out of jail on May 22 for $50,000. He has a criminal arraignment hearing on June 20.
Melissa Pérez-Carrillo covers breaking news and public safety for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Reach out at mperezcarrillo@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Ex-Siesta Key hotel manager arrested for alleged $100k resort theft
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