By Benjamin Price, News-Leader
Nassau County has filed a civil action in its pursuit of the estate of former clerk’s office employee Julie Mixon.
The administration of the Mixon estate is pending in Nassau County Circuit Court, and the county filed a claim for the estate in August. The holders of the Mixon estate objected to the claim, prompting the county to file a separate independent action in circuit court.
The county’s complaint, filed Sept. 6, states its reasons for the claim, including fraudulent transfer, civil theft, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty.
Mixon committed suicide May 1, a week after she confessed to stealing funds from the Nassau County Clerk of Court’s office since 1996. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement estimates Mixon stole more than $850,000 over a five-year period. However, a special audit paid for by the county projects that figure to be more than $1.3 million.
According to the county’s complaint, “on multiple occasions, (Mixon) improperly transferred cash revenue from the clerk’s office to herself by a scheme of falsifying and forging cash receipts.”
Because Mixon concealed these transfers to herself, with the “intent to hinder, delay or defraud the clerk and the county,” the complaint alleges this constitutes fraudulent transfer.
The complaint demands judgment and damages against the estate in an amount to be determined at trial, with interest, costs, attorney’s fees and any other relief deemed just by the court.
It alleges fraud for “repeatedly falsifying and forging receipts.” The county relied upon these false representations, and was therefore “fraudulently induced into allowing Mixon to maintain her position and continued access to cash receipts.”
Mixon’s brother, Ashley H. Strickland of Yulee, is currently the personal representative of the Mixon estate.
According to the estate on file, Mixon’s assets included a 1993 Jeep valued at $10,000, half interest in a home at 801 S. Sixth St. in Fernandina Beach valued at $77,500, a home at 1013 Parrish Drive in Yulee valued at $40,000, household furniture and furnishings valued at 2,000 and jewelry valued at $2,000.