PROBABI U: AFFIDAVIT STATEMENT CONTINUATION Janice Yvette Shackelford, between the dates of February 1, 2024, to February 26, 2025, did knowingly engage in an ongoing course of conduet with the intent to defraud the City of Quincy, Florida and its citizens of more than of more $7,200.00 U.S. currency, by false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises or willful misrepresentations of a future act, contrary to Section 817.034(4)(a)3, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did knowingly obtain, use or did endeavor to obtain or to use $7,200.00 US Currency, the property of the government of the City of Quincy, with the intent to either temporarily or permanently deprive the other person of a right to the property or a benefit therefrom or to appropriate the property to her own use or to the use of any person not entitled thereto, contrary to Section 812.014(1)(c)2, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully falsely make, alter, forge or counterfeit an order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy fo ial plot, in the amount of $1000.00 oa the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.01, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully falsely make, alter, forge or counterfeit an order for the payment of money, or a receipt for moncy, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the amount of $500.00 ———a the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.01, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully falsely make, alter, forge or counterfeit an order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the amount of $513.50 a the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.01, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully falsely make, alter, forge or counterfeit an order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quiney for a burial plot, in the amount of $513.50 to] with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.01, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully falsely make, alter, forge or counterfeit an order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the amount of $300.00 a the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.01, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully falsely make, alter, forge or counterfeit an order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the amount of $250.00 tof with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary 10 Section 831.01, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully utter and publish as true a false, forged or altered order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the sum of $1000.00 0 ai to be falne, forged altered or counterfeited, with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.02, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully utter and publish as true a false, forged or altered order for the payment of money or a reecipt for moncy, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot in the sum of $500.00 CMMI owing i to be fal, forged, altered 26000312CFMA DIN: 3PROBABLE CAUSE AFFIDAVIT a Pu assiaceee, joer Eo i STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE = ras 07354 | 28 JUDICIAL CIRCUIT $A.006012025 Tt often (snes Ronen Airs Dan of Of 404 W Jefferson Street, Quincy, FL — City of Quincy City Hall Between 224 w 2/0625 Shackelford, Janice, Yvette i] Race Wowie chor 3 i eight] Weht | Byer | taleCatr | Compenon | Bail a F 5-04 | 150__| Brown _| Black _| Med Med ‘Adve Sree Ag Ne iy Prove 817 Arlington Circle Quincy. Florida _| 059922551 Hr nm nme ke er ee ee ee BX um $557 $Me 8 SOE Sheena Ste [xs 2 Meee" fier tS ORGANIZED SCHEME TO a a) DEFRAUD 1 Boe | Brr03s4eqays rs ec re GaunNaw Bt Doms Cac Caw Orw Orv Cow Datetoued Cwatt, CJDem Volk ChOweret Tome SETI] Wena Se OE GRAND THEFT 1 Box | gir 914yey2 Se ypxow Daas Ace Site oraey Nember Gertie oR Hewes Cac Cow Orw Cew Onwm O Ducted Ol Wait Aw 9) BOnie of ae Tease] a | Ra Va Nome] oon a ss Oa FORGERY 6. Gen | stor i= ra Tipe ron Coan Nomar {Vere eps Sac Baw Ow rw Baer Gan] Datel wri an Tien Vat . Cordero Arrest, The undcraigned cece and swear Tht he/she has Just aad reasonable cause Wo Dalene and does beleve that ie wDOvE awed DeTeadt commited THe following vottion oflav: Between he dates of February I, 2024 and February 26,2025, CHARGE #4: UTTERING, (6) COUNTS, F.S.S. 831.02 CHARGE #5: MISUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE, (1) COUNT, F.S.S. 838,022(1)(c) CHARGE #6: VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 119, (1) COUNT, F.S.S. 119.10(2)(a) The State Attomney’s Office of the 2 Judicial Circuit and the Florida Department of Law Enforeement have been investigating complaints of public corruption within the local governments of Gadsden County. 2] Investigation into these matters revealed that City of Quiney Clerk and Records Custodian Janice Shackelford has committed the folloy tions of law: Com EZ Za Dima Was Ba ren a - Saree oa ae Pome, (paz lee i ae ae 3 Wilkerson [SAO ee ae aah 26000312CFMA DIN: 3or counterfeited, with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.02, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully utter and publish as true a false, forged or altered order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the sum of $513.50 | knowing it to be false, forged, altered or counterfeited, with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.02, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully utter and publish as true a false, forged or altered order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the sum of $513.50 tof knowing it to be false, forged, altered or counterfeited, with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.02, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully utter and publish as true a false, forged or altered order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quiney for a burial plot, in the sum of $300.00 to knowing it to be false, forged, altered or counterfeited, with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.02, Florida Statutes Janice Yvette Shackelford, did unlawfully utter and publish as true a false, forged or altered order for the payment of money, or a receipt for money, goods or other property, a cash receipt for the City of Quincy for a burial plot, in the sum of $250.00 | knowing it to be false, forged, altered or counterfeited, with the intent to injure or defraud, contrary to Section 831.02, Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford did unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally obtained a benefit for a person or cause harm to another by obstructing, delaying, or preventing the communication of information relating to the commission of a felony that directly involved or affected the government entity served by the defendant, contrary to Section $38.022(1)(c), Florida Statutes. Janice Yvette Shackelford, as the City Clerk / Records Custodian for the City of Quiney, Florida, failed to comply with providing all public records regarding cemetery burials from October 1“, 2024, to June I, 2025, as is her responsibility per F.S.S. 119.07. The documents Janice Yvette Shackelford failed to include were relevant to an on-going Public Corruption case she was directly involved. These actions are contrary to 119.10(2)(a), Florida Statutes. PROBABLE CAUSE NARRATIVE, Janice Yvette Shackelford is a sixty-two, (62) year-old female employed by the City of Quincy, Florida as the City Clerk. As the City Clerk, Ms. Shackelford is responsible for preparing agendas for and recording the minutes of all City Commission meetings. As City Clerk, Ms. Shackelford is responsible to maintain, preserve and manage all official records for the City of Quincy. As City Clerk, Ms. Shackelford is responsible to respond to public records and informational requests from citizens, staff, elected officials and other agencies. The City Clerk is the Custodian of Records for the City of Quincy. Criminal history records revealed Janice Yvette Shackelford was arresied on September 15, 1995, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, (Case #409747608) on the charges of Misapplication of Bank Funds by an Employee. Shackelford was convicted and sentenced to probation in the case. Criminal history records revealed Janice Yvette Shackelford was arrested on November 6, 2006, in Miami- Dade County, Florida, (Case #°06-037297) and charged with Organized Scheme to Defraud and Grand Theft. Shackelford entered a plea in case #106-037297 on January 12, 2007, to the charge of Grand Theft. Shackelford was adjudicated guilty of that felony erime; therefore, Shackleford was designated as a convicted felon, 26000312CFMA DIN: 3to Ms. Shackelford in cash and made monthly installments to Ms. Shackelford in cash, until the balance was 0.00 dollars. Based on the Cemetery Plot Burial Permit Form I located for| July 2024 transactios she paid the City of Quincy $1017.00, On August 19", 2025, I met with] who was placed under oath. IINIMIH stated during her ‘sworn interview that the transaction in February of 2025 was conducted by her relative, JEM who is a City of Quincy Oe handled the She told me she went to City Hall and met Ms. shackelford. Due to being an employee. .. provided with an “Employee Discount”. Ms. HMB said she handed $250.00 cash directly to Ms. Shackelford. Ms. Shackleford then provided| with a cash receipt. IEEE brought these documents with her to our meeting. Upon inspection, 1 found copies of the Burial Permit Form and Cesh Receipt were the same as what was provided to me in June, A wating oan 5 I Sco vc na pctily deceptive transactions conducted by Ms. Shackelford. I located burial permit forms for several people that did not have receipts attached. These individuals were contacted and interviewed On August 19%, 2025, I contacted via telephone IEEE reported purchasing a burial plot at Hillcrest Cemetery on February 6", 2024, and said he paid Ms. Shackelford $513.50 cash. EEE desc being provided with a similar cash receipt to the previously mentioned customers. On August 25, 2025, § Investigator Rowan met with] at his residence. told Investigator Rowan he had purchased a cemetery plot from the City of Quiney for his mothe on February 6, 2024, I cesribed mecting with City of Quincy employee [EEE to arrange the purchase of the plot. Investigator Rowa show a copy of the Hillcrest Cemetery Purchase Burial Permit Form for the purchase and| identified the form was prepared by during their interact fold Investigator Rowan that after meeting wit Jentered Quin all and went to the office of the City Clerk HME described the office and clerk to Investigator didn’t know the clerk by name but described Janice Shackleford to Investigator Rowan. said he paid Ms. Shackleford $513.50 US Currency in cash and Ms, Shackleford gave him a printed paper receipt told Investigator Rowan he’s searched for the receipt since talking to me on the phone but has been unable 10 find his copy of the receipt for the cash payment. On August 19%, 2025, 1 met with] who was placed under oath {EEE stated during her swom interview that she met and selected 5 burial plots at Sunnyvale Cemetery. After mecting with BE nct Ms. Shackelford in City Hall and attempted to make payment with a credit card and a check, but Ms. Shackelford told her she would only accept cas — went to her bank and withdrew funds and directly paid Ms. Shackelford $2527.00 in cash. EEE advised Ms. SI fo did not provide her with a receipt at the time and told her to come back the following week. When EE retumed, Ms. Shackelford still did not provide her with a receipt and was confrontational. On August 20", 2025, I met with] who was placed under oath i stated during her sworn interyiew that she met with] jon October 22", 2024 and selected two burial plots at Sunnyvale Cemetery did not remember the exact details but remembers going to her credit union and withdrawing $1000.00 in cash before returning to City Hall and giving those funds directly to Ms. Shackelford. was provided with a receipt by Ms. Shackelford, NOTE ~ this transaction did not include the cost of the filing fee for the deed. On August 20%, 2025, | neh vito sii under oath. KEE stated during her sworn interview that on November 19", 2024, she met with| |and selected a burial plot at Sunnyvale Cemetery. After selecting her plot, she met with Ms. Shackelford and directly paid her $500 in cash. Afte the cash, Ms. Shackelford provided a cash receipt, Again, this amount did not include the cost of the filing fee. 26000312CFMA DIN: 3inal history records revealed Janice Yvette Shackelford was arrested on September 28, 2012, in Miami- Dade County, Florida, (Case #F12-024262) for multiple counts of Official Misconduct as a Public Servant and Compensation/Reward for Official Bchavior/Unlawful, Court records revealed Shackelford was employed by a State Representative and was involved in a scheme to defraud ITaitian immigrants. Shackelford entered a plea in case #F12-024262 on October 10, 2014, to one count of Compensation/Reward for Official Behavior/Unlawful and one count of Official Misconduct as a Public Servant. Adjudication of guilt was withheld in the case. Shackelford was placed on probation and ordered to pay costs. Janice Yvette Shackelford was hired by the City of Quincy to the position of City Clerk in July 2020. In her City of Quincy application, Janice Shackelford did not reveal she was a convicted felon. Janice Shackelford’s status as a convicted felon was discovered by the city after she was hired; however, she maintained her employment as City Clerk for the City of Quiney. Janice Shackelford was a convicted felon and had been arrested, charged and pled in three separate felony cases to crimes of dishonesty A Driver License inquiry revealed Janice Yvette Shackleford’s current Florida Driver License was suspended on August 20, 2024, and her driver license remains suspended. The City of Quincy initiated a policy in November 2022, that it would no longer accept cash payments at Quincy City Hall for any service. During the SAO and FDLE investigation into public corruption in Gadsden County, information was obtained that City of Quiney Clerk Janice Shackelford was accepting cash payments for cemetery plot sales. Hillerest Cemetery and Sunnyvale Cemetery are two City of Quincy owned cemeteries. I was provided with a City of Quincy “Cemetery Plot Purchase Burial Permit Form” that documented the sale of one burial plot at Hillerest Cemetery for $513.30. These forms were utilized by the city to detail specific locations in cither cemetery where plots have been sold to customers. Additionally, I was provided with a document titled “Cash Receipt” that reflected the sale of a cemetery plot in Hillerest Cemetery for $250.00 cash. ‘The date of these documents was February 25", 2025, | -onducted the transaction, On August 1", 2025, I served a Subpoena to the City of Quiney for all Cemetery Plot Purchase Burial Permits Forms from January 1", 2023, to the present date. ‘The subpoena was served directly to EEE of the City of Quincy Utilities Department is responsible for completing the Cemetery Plot Purchase Burial Permit Form. a. not handle payments. Afier secing EEE customers report to City Hall to make payment for the selected plot. On August 13, 2025, I met with REE to pick up the requested documents, Upon inspecting these documents, I located two Cemetery Plot Purchase Burial Permit Forms both dated December 26", 2024. Both permit forms had cash receipts attached that were similar to what was provided to me on June 25". Both transactions nl plot, plus the filing fee for the deed. | identified the purchasers as On August 14", 2025, 1 met with IIE who we cr cath, II sicted during her sworn interview that on December 26", 2025, she met wit and sel 1 at Hillerest she met — Cemetery. After selecting the plot, she was directed to City Hall, wt made a wpent of $513.50 directly to Ms. Shackelford. After receiving the cash, Ms. Shackelford provided| jvith a cash receipt. On August 14", 2025, | met with III who was placed under oath. [EEE stated during her sworn interview that she met with IEEE on December 26", 2024 and selected a burial plot at Sunnyvale Cemetery, After tha City Hall and met with Ms. Shackelford, who accepted $913.50 in cash. Ms. Shackelford provided a: th a cash receipt EEE told me she purchased two additional plots in July of 2024 and paid cash for those to Ms. Shackelford. I located the Cemetery Plot Purchase Burial Permit forms for those transactions, but there were no receipts attached. EEE told me she could not remember how much she was charged for the two plots she purchased in July but remembered making a “down payment” 26000312CFMA DIN: 3who stated essentially the following: On February 26 went to City Hall to purchase a burial plot. She met with a female who identified herself as the ‘City er ae: she needed to purchase one burial plot for her recently deceased daughter. The “Ci Clerk” told] the fee for a burial plot was $300.00, which is inconsistent with the fee scheduling, jagreed to the price and attempted to pay using a debit card. EEE told Investigator Rowan she remembered seeing the sign in City Hall that cash payments are not accepted and reported telling the Civ Clock” that as well. ‘The “City Clerk” still insisted that pay cash for the burial plot. Ms. a. to ber bank and withdrew the funds in cash and retumed to City Hall and gave the cash to the ‘City Clerk”, observed the “City Clerk” prepare a receipt on her computer, before printing it and giving her a copy provided Investigator Rowan with a copy of the receipi, that was extremely similar to the receipts provided described the location of the “City Clerk’s” office as being the location of Ms. Shackelford’s office, and said she remembered a plaque that read “City Clerk” on the door. On August 19%, 2 fes as the Senior Accountant in the Finance Department in the City of Quincy. served as the Interim Finance Manager for the City of Quiney. Afier being placed under oath provided the following swom statement — The City of Quincy has bili place prohibiting cash payments since November of 2022. This includes cemetery plot sales. said the only exception to that is Parks and Recreation conce Ics, which arc oficn in cash. RE vas shown the reccipts provided to| While inspecting the receipts, the following observations were made: , Investigator Rowan and I met with said these receipts were not authentic and provided the following examples for why that is so The General Ledger account number is incorrect. The account number for cemetery plot sales is cither 001- 364-11000 (Hillcrest) or 001-364-12000 (Sunnyvale). The receipt number should be a letter followed by six numeric characters, The font and general appearance of these three receipts is not consistent with a receipt that would have been processed by City of Quincy's accounting software, ADG. interview was recorded for evidentiary purposes. On August 20, 2025, Investigator Rowan and I went to City Hall in Quincy to speak wih While walking through’ the main entrance of the building, a sign reading “NOTICE — NO CASH ON PREMESIS” was clearly affixed to the building to the right of the front door. Once at City Hall, we spoke with who was shown these i” receipts that included es the operator who prepared the receipts, Under oath, stated he did not prepare those documents and said he has never seen a City of Quincy receipt that looked like that. He also confirmed that the City of Quincy docs not accept cash peyrneees MMMMMMEIRIREE sori ed cs with Gro cxamples of aushentio receipts prepured by the City of Qitacy 26000312CFMA DIN: 3Slated these examples are the only two receipts utilized by the city, which clearly showed the receipts provided by Ms. Shackelford are not authentic. The receipts provided oI orc both similar but coniain less information than those provided to the other three. These receipts show the amount received and a legal description of the burial plot. Additionally, the receipts have the names and addresses of the three individuals, respectively. There is no General Ledger account information, or receipt numbers, The receipts do reflect a payment that was received ionicity oF Cuicey Bass Sins ereceipis Ms. Shackelford provide : ae are forged documents showing the receipt of money During this investigation, City of Quincy IEEE provided me with cemetery plot records she requested from Ms. Shackelford in June of 2025, after this complaint became “publi provided me with two USB drives that contained burial plot records from October 1%, 2024 to June 1, 2025. These records were prepared by Ms. Shackelford. One of the USB drives contained seanned copies of Cemetery Plot Purchase Burial Permit Forms with attached ADG receipts and the other contained scanned copies of burial plot deeds for the same time. | inspected these records and made the following observations Cemetery Plot Burial Permit forms for the requested time were includ The funds| The burial plot document for [MD was i: ich showed the amount owed for the Hillcrest burial plot to be $513.50. There was no correspondi pt included to reflect the transaction. This was the only burial permit form thet did not have a copy of the receipt, or an email attached. Additionally, Ms. Shackelford failed to reflect the employee discount given. Included in the packet provided by Ms. Shackelford to HER 2s printed ADG General Ledger statement for 2/25/25 with a highlighted transaction for a burial plot sale on 2/25/25 for $513.50. The highlighted transaction was determined to be for an unrelated burial plot sale, which has been verified as being accounted for properly. Although Ms. Shackelford is the custodian of records for the City 0 incy, this investigation revealed she was omitting records pertinent to this investigation ‘hee rr | was directly served a Subpoena Duces Tecum for all financial records that account for cemetery plot sales for 2024 and 2025. She provided Capital City Bank statements for the City of Quincy Operating account, which is uscd to deposit funds taken in for burial plots. She also provided copies of the ADG General Ledger for Sunnyvale Cemetery and Hillcrest Cemetery for the same time. After inspecting these documents, there is no record of these cash payments being accounted for in AIG or deposited into the General Operating Account at Capital City Bank. ‘The total amount of US Currency received by Ms. Shackelford that was never deposited is at a minimum of $7,134.50. ADG and Capital City Bank records indicate the City of Quincy issued payment to Gadsden County for the filing fees on these transactions, but due to none of these funds ever being deposited, the money for the filing fees is also a loss for the city in excess of $100.00. While speaking with [EEE we asked if any portion of this complaint was known by other staff in City Hall. She stated that the transaction with in Fanasy of 2025 was known in the Finance Department. stated she alerted the current finance director, about this issue According to reported this issue to former Ci Since learning that information, Investigator Rowan spoke to Interim City Manager| stated he is nox aware of any information being reported ‘OMA rezarding cash payments and there is n0 inquiry by the City of Quincy into this matter 26000312CFMA DIN: 3Based on the information and evidence obtained in this investigation, Janice Shackelford engaged in an ‘ongoing course of conduct to defraud the City of Quiney and its citizens of more than $7,200.00 in US Currency. Janice Shackelford used her position and access as a public employee with the City of Quiney to deliberately conceal public records. Janice Shackelford ercated fraudulent and fictitious documents to avoid detection. Ms. Shackelford knowingly provided citizens with fraudulent documents to conceal her crimes. Janice Shackelford is being charged with (1) count of Organized Scheme to Defraud, (1) count of Grand Thefi, (6) counts of Forgery, (6) counts of Uttering a Forged Instrument, (1) count of Misuse of Public Office and (1) count of Violation of Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Report by: SAO Investigator Justin Wilkerson 26000312CFMA DIN: 3CASE NO, $A006012025 — RETURN Warrant was received by this depariment at County Florida on the day of AD. 0, and executed in County, Florida on the day of AD, 20 _. by arresting the within named Arresting Officer Department me of Service REMARKS: 26000312CFMA DIN: 3 IN CIRCUIT COURT GADSDEN COUNTY STATE OF FLORIDA WARRANT ORDER TO TAKE INTO CUSTODY STATE OF FLORIDA vs. In the name of the State of Florida, to the Law Enforcement Officers of said State WHEREAS: Investigator Justin Wilkerson. has made oath that between the 1M day of February A.D., 2024 and the 26% day of February A.D. 2025, in the County afore said one Janice Yvette Shackelford unlawfully SS. $17.0344)(a)3,_ FSS. 812.014(1)(6)2,_F.S.S. 831,01, F.S.S. 831.02, F.S.S. 838.022(1\e) and ESS._119.102)(a), contrary to the law in such case and provided, and against the peace and did violate F, dignity of the State of Florida. ‘This Warrant is a command to arrest instanter the above named and bring said person before the court to be dealt with according to law. y-“ Given under my hand and seal this_ #4 day of Aikes7