Last Friday, sheriff's deputies arrested Cecil Bain, 51, for allegedly stealing food vouchers from AIDS Help and trading them for crack cocaine.
Bain had been a case worker at AIDS Help until he was fired on Feb. 11. As part of his duties, he had possession of Winn Dixie food vouchers which were supposed to be distributed to AIDS Help clients.
Det. Lynn McNeill said she received a tip last September that Bain was trading vouchers for drugs. She contacted the agency and requested an audit.
The initial audit revealed that only seven $25 vouchers were missing.
"At that time, I told Cecil that I would give him another chance," said AIDS Help Executive Director Richard Hart, "if he would make restitution and enter a drug rehab program."
But subsequent investigation revealed that Bain may have stolen more than $7000 in vouchers between June of 1999 and February of this year, according to Det. McNeill.
Bain was charged with grand theft and booked into the Monroe County jail. He was subsequently released on $5000 bond.
"The important thing here is that we get full restitution," Hart said. "We hope that will be part of the adjudication of this case."
Hart said that the agency had already recovered about $1600 by withholding Bain's final paycheck and his credit for vacation time.
Hart emphasized that all AIDS Help clients who were due food vouchers have now received them.