PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. — A woman was charged with seven fraud-related felonies following an investigation into animal sanctuary clinic in Putnam County.
The Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement said 61-year-old Edna Elaine West used $246,475.24 of charitable funds from Rooterville Animal Sanctuary, located in Melrose, to purchase three separate parcels of land.
Officials said West used an additional $100,631 from the Rooterville bank account to buy a mobile home to place it on the properties.
West is also accused of submitting Rooterville's registration application to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services using someone else's name without permission.
Police documents allege that West committed the following offenses between 2021 and 2024:
- Unregistered Solicitation
- Submit false, misleading or inaccurate information
- Fail to apply contributions in a manner substantially consistent with the solicitation (two counts)
- Commingle charitable contributions with noncharitable funds
- Criminal use of personal identification information
- Scheme to defraud with property obtained valuing $50,000 or more
West was arrested on June 6.
