Copper wires have long been a target for resale in the U.S. because of their value at scrapyards, and this school employee took advantage of exactly that. According to a May 4 press release from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), a Gadsden County School Board employee was arrested on multiple theft-related charges in Quincy.
Michael Pride, 50, was the supervisor in the Maintenance Department for the Gadsden County School Board and had been employed there for over 30 years. This position is understood to have given him direct access to purchasing and supply operations.
The arrest happened after an investigation was launched on April 7, after FDLE’s Economic Crime Squad received a tip from a “concerned citizen.” The tip alleged that Pride had been ordering large amounts of copper wire for the school board through a local electrical supply company…