FDLE agents yesterday arrested Cindy Jane Nigh, 61, of 480 Reed Canal Road, South Daytona, on grand theft.
Nigh was a witness coordinator in the Public Defender’s Office, 7th Judicial Circuit.
Agents in the Brevard Field Office launched an investigation after a public defender employee conducted a review of expenditures for several cases. The review showed that Nigh had arranged for so-called witnesses or victims to travel to Florida for trials, but the names submitted for travel expenses were not associated with the case.
During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Nigh used her position as a witness coordinator to purchase airline tickets, hotel stays and other travel-related items by filing fraudulent payment vouchers or charging vendors with the public defender’s office. All of the transactions were used to cover travel costs for some of Nigh’s close friends and out-of-state family members. Agents determined the scheme, which took place from September 2017 to October 2018, totaled more than $9,000.
Nigh was taken to the Volusia County Jail on a $2,500 bond. The State Attorney’s Office, 7th Judicial Circuit, will prosecute.
