Copyright postandcourier
Shelby said he realized something was wrong in 2023 when he tried to make a large business purchase. He tried to withdraw cash from the business checking account but discovered that the account had insufficient funds. He found this unusual and inconsistent with Dixie Amusement’s records, prompting him to investigate further. His review found that Sutton made numerous unauthorized purchases between December 2021 and October 2023, according to the complaint. Shelby alleges Sutton had used Mary Shelby’s credit card, which was meant to be closed and inaccessible following her death in August 2021. He also alleges Sutton removed cash from the company safe and did not report any cash removals, according to the complaint. The unauthorized transactions totaled approximately $777,149.19, not including the cash allegedly missing from the company’s safe, according to the lawsuit. Many of the transactions were made through Amazon. “Shelby confronted Sutton about the unauthorized transactions and Sutton acknowledged making the purchases,” according to the complaint. “However, he argued that Mary L. Shelby had allowed similar transactions in the past.” After Sutton's admission, his employment was terminated on Oct. 21, 2023, the lawsuit stated. Shelby asked Sutton to return his company laptop, but he alleges Sutton erased the laptop’s data, including its browser and search history, before handing it over. Shelby wants Sutton to pay him for the misspent money along with attorney fees and other associated costs, according to the lawsuit.
