Formal fraud charges filed in connection to Holmes Beach butterfly garden, but prosecution drops one charge
Formal charges have been filed against the woman who police say collected donations while claiming to be president of the North American Butterfly Association Manasota Chapter — even after it was dissolved — and used money for expenses other than the garden.
Nancy Ambrose, 59, was arrested in May and charged with scheme to defraud under $20,000, operating an unlicensed charity and soliciting as charity without authorization. She is currently out on bonds totaling $4,500 as she awaits trial.
On Thursday, the State Attorney’s Office formally filed charges of operating an unlicensed charity and soliciting as charity without authorization but declined to file the scheme to fraud charge.
According to Assistant State Attorney Cynthia Evers, the decision was made because the solicitation charge includes the element of scheming to defraud.
Ambrose was investigated by the Holmes Beach Police Department for several months before charges were filed against her.
Detective Sgt. Brian Hall said Tuesday that he was pleased the case was moving forward despite one of the charges he filed being dropped.
In February 2016, Holmes Beach took back control over the butterfly garden next to city hall six years after Ambrose had entered into an agreement with the city as the North American Butterfly Association Manasota Chapter’s president to maintain the garden. The city had received several complaints about the garden no longer being maintained and memorial brick pavers she had sold had took too long or were never delivered.
The investigation into Ambrose uncovered that the North American Butterfly Association Manasota Chapter had been dissolved on July 1, 2011. She also never registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture to solicit contributions.
Jessica De Leon: 941-745-7049, @JDeLeon1012
This story was originally published August 15, 2017 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Formal fraud charges filed in connection to Holmes Beach butterfly garden, but prosecution drops one charge."