Making A List
So, the chairman of the county’s Tourist Development Council got into trouble and resigned after he used county money to buy a 40-foot yacht. Well, at least the title of the boat was made out to the county. He made another purchase and kept the title in his own name, according to reports today.
The Local Puppy Trainer has the story: Sheriff’s Office issues warrant for Mark Bellinger’s arrest
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for Mark Bellinger, the former director of the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council.
The Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Northwest Florida Mortgage Fraud Task Force, obtained the felony warrant late Thursday.
Bellinger, 52, is facing charges of felony theft.
…Bellinger is accused of using TDC funds to purchase a home in Destin, according to an OCSO news release.
The $747,000 home is located in the Kelly Plantation neighborhood of Destin and was purchased in August 2011. The Sheriff’s office’s ongoing investigation determined that some of the funds used to purchase the home might have come from BP money funneled to the TDC following the 2010 oil spill.
No doubt he got a great price for an all cash deal and immediate closing … 😈
He must have figured out this was coming, which is probably why he resigned after they found out about the boat, to give him more time to get away.
He left a suicide note for his wife to find.
Update: Mr. Bellinger died of an apparent drug overdose in Pelham, Alabama.
