Finance chief indicted for embezzlement

NAPLES — Federal prosecutors charged Alfred Lenz, 68, with embezzling nearly $2.4 million from his former employer, Vineyards Development Corp. in Naples.

According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney, Lenz was the controller for Vineyards Development from 2005 to 2012, using the money he embezzled to buy real estate and for personal expenses.

Prosecutors allege Lenz used his position as controller to hide 87 checks of $24,000 each to an account he controlled, making false entries in Vineyards' books. He also allegedly made nearly $300,000 in wire transfers from Vineyards' accounts into another account he controlled.

Vineyards Development developed Vineyards Naples, a master-planned community off Pine Ridge Road near Interstate 75. The company is privately held by the Procacci family.