MOUNT DORA, Florida—Two employees of a local marijuana dispensary were arrested Monday after an anonymous caller tipped their employer off to ongoing thefts according to their arrest affidavits.
Hector Alexander Valle Roman, 24, and Danielle Caitlynn Eiler, also 24, were both arrested by Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives after the security manager of Curaleaf Dispensary, 4149 Britt Road, Mount Dora reported multiple thefts of “flower.” Flower is a term for marijuana in its natural bud form.
The security manager told LCSO the security manager at their Gainesville location received a call from an anonymous tipster alleging that three people at the Mount Dora location were stealing 1 to 3 pounds of “flower” each night and posting photos on SnapChat. The tipster later said Roman, who worked as a lead and Eiler, a supervisor, would fill a machine and then say it was clogged, so they would empty it. Roman and Eiler both worked night shift, along with a third employee who was in on the scheme. That employee is not named in either affidavit.
The security manager reviewed surveillance and found that on Nov. 24. 2021, Eiler, of Tavares, filled three bags with “flower” and then took them to the manager’s office; five days later she filled seven bags with an unnamed coworker and took those bags into the office and on Dec. 1, 2021, the pair filled two bags and took them into the office concealed under paper.
On Feb. 14, 2022, Roman, of Orlando, and Eiler filled a total of 11 bags with “flower” on three separate occasions and took them to the office and 18 bags on the following day. The duo stole eight more bags that week, according to the affidavit. On Feb. 24, security installed a camera in the manager’s office that Eiler ultimately discovered, and the thefts ceased.
In total, Eiler, who was employed with Curaleaf for more than two years, stole 49 bags of “flower” weighing almost 11 pounds and worth nearly $50,000, the affidavit states. Eiler was questioned and admitted stealing about 50 bags of “flower.” She said she would sell it to her friend “Jose” who lives in Orlando for $100 an ounce and she would give Roman a cut. Roman was taken into custody and refused to answer questions, according to the affidavit.
Both Eiler and Roman were arrested for grand theft and transported to the Lake County Jail, where they were released on $5,000 bond.
