St. Pete Beach Man Accused of Using City-Issued Card to Fuel Personal and Unaffiliated Vehicles
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A St. Pete Beach city employee has been arrested and charged with scheme to defraud after detectives say he used a city gas card for unauthorized fuel purchases totaling over $3,000.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit began an investigation on August 28, 2025, after the City of St. Pete Beach reported a theft by an employee.
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According to detectives, 50-year-old Leonard Hardy Rose, a city employee, allegedly used a city gas card to fill up vehicles not owned by the city. The unauthorized purchases occurred between February 2024 and August 2025.
Surveillance footage from local gas stations reportedly shows Rose using the city-issued card to fuel vehicles that were not city property. After confirming numerous unauthorized transactions, detectives arrested Rose on September 4, 2025.
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He has been charged with scheme to defraud and was transported to the Pinellas County Jail. The investigation is ongoing.
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