Former Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino vice president Eric Lemerand told me today that he knew nothing about the thefts being committed by two casino employees under his watch (read background here).
Lemerand acknolwedged that he was suspended shortly after the Florida Department of Investigation began investigating the theft, but said his October 18 departure was due to family reasons.
"The guys that were implicated did work for me and there was a paid suspension for me," said the 37-year-old Lemerand. "[Gulfstream executives] said, 'You have to get out of the way until all this is completed.' And I resigned during the suspension. I have family issues that I have to take care of in Michigan."
He said he had been considering leaving his employment before the investigation ever began and at one point had submitted his two-weeks notice, which he later rescinded. "I didn't really want to leave that kind of a job," he said of his high-ranking position at the casino.
He said he didn't want to discuss any further details of the case while the FDLE investigation is continuing.
