Theft charge alleges $488,600 taken by ex-Whitgro employee

Shayne A. Holt, 40, a former employee at Whitgro Inc. in St. John, has been summoned to appear in court Sept. 19 after a charge of first degree theft was filed Aug. 21 in superior court.

Allegations in the investigation report conducted by the sheriff’s office say Holt took a total of $488,600 from the cooperative by writing bogus checks to himself and cashing or depositing them. The investigation report includes a listing of the checks from Sept. 9, 2009, until Oct. 8, 2012.

According to the arrest report, Holt worked for the cooperative as IT Controller. He worked as a contractor in 2008 bef...