LAKELAND, Fla. – A Lakeland man found himself in handcuffs Tuesday after detectives say he turned his employer’s credit card into a personal spending account.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) arrested 37-year-old Steven Douglas Carter at his home on Kinsman Way, closing the book on a fraud investigation that had been brewing since last summer.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the trouble started in July 2025 when Carter’s employer flagged suspicious activity. The company reported that Carter, who had authorized access to a corporate credit card, was allegedly using it for purchases that had nothing to do with business.
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Detectives dug into the financial records and uncovered a trail of unauthorized transactions totaling $2,179.61.
Following the investigation, a warrant was issued for Carter’s arrest. Deputies caught up with him on Tuesday, January 13, taking him into custody at his residence without incident.
Carter was booked into the Sheriff’s Processing Center and now faces felony charges, including Scheming to Defraud and Grand Theft.
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