Crime & Public Safety
Palmetto resident arrested on felony theft, alleged misuse of jailed acquaintance’s accounts
A Palmetto woman was arrested after Sarasota police allege she used a jailed acquaintance’s bank accounts and credit cards for personal expenses while that person was incarcerated in the Manatee County Jail. The arrest and allegations appear in a Sarasota Police Department probable cause affidavit and led to multiple felony charges.
According to the affidavit, investigators say the conduct occurred between November 2025 and July 2026 and resulted in an estimated loss of $64,923.85. Police allege the suspect transferred $50,000 from the victim’s certificate of deposit into a checking account in July, then sent herself roughly $17,000 through 12 Zelle transactions. Investigators also allege about $16,000 was withdrawn from ATMs in the Palmetto area. Records reviewed by detectives reportedly included bank statements and subpoenas to financial companies.
The affidavit identifies the defendant as Jessica Elizabeth McVay, 48, and states she was arrested Sept. 23. Police allege she knew the victim through work as a Veterans Affairs coordinator for the Public Defender’s Office in the 12th Judicial Circuit and that the victim told investigators McVay was the only person with access to her cards and accounts while incarcerated. The affidavit notes the victim signed power-of-attorney paperwork in July but that investigators found the document did not authorize McVay to use the funds for personal gain.
McVay faces charges listed in the affidavit: grand theft ($20,000–$100,000), criminal use of personal identification information (over $5,000), unauthorized use of a credit card (over $300), scheme to defraud (over $50,000) and communications fraud (over $300). The affidavit states McVay, through counsel, declined to provide a statement to investigators. The case status in public court records beyond the arrest and charges was not documented in the affidavit.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.