A 39-year-old Silver Springs woman accused of shoplifting from a local Walmart is facing additional drug charges after a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy found fentanyl in her vehicle.
On Wednesday, an MCSO deputy responded to the Walmart located at 34 Bahia Avenue in Ocala in reference to a retail theft incident. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with a loss prevention associate who advised that a woman inside the store, identified as Molly Elizabeth Money, was concealing items in her purse, according to the arrest report.
The associate advised that Money had spent a lengthy amount of time inside the store, and she had a shopping cart that was full of items. According to the associate, Money had “committed the same act” the previous day, and she had allegedly fled from the scene with several concealed items after a store employee attempted to apprehend her.
The MCSO report stated that the deputy was familiar with Money since she had been trespassed from the same Walmart store in early March of 2023.
The deputy responded to the loss prevention office and observed Money entering one of the store’s restrooms while carrying several items in her hands. In the report, the deputy noted that Money stayed in the restroom for more than 30 minutes, and her hands were empty when she walked back into the store.
An employee entered the restroom and found empty packages for several items in the trash can.
Money was observed grabbing her shopping cart, and she walked to the fitting room area. She then entered one of the fitting rooms and remained there for an extended period of time. When she exited the fitting room, she was detained by several deputies, according to the MCSO report.
The report stated that Money was in possession of a brown handbag. A deputy searched the handbag and found a total of 27 items belonging to the store ($227 value). Those items included five packages of Pokemon cards ($5.98 each), two packages of hair clips ($4.97 each), a baby carrier ($32.98), and two packages of fingernails ($4.97 each), among other items.
After being read her Miranda rights, Money advised that she had planned on giving the stolen items to a male friend who would sell them. She stated that her friend would then give her money for rent, according to the MCSO report.
The loss prevention associate told deputies that Money’s male friend had “entered and exited the store multiple times” while carrying a backpack. The associate advised that it was unknown if the friend had removed any items from the store.
Money consented to a search of her van. Inside the vehicle, a pink bag was found on the back driver’s side seat that contained multiple needles, a plastic bag filled with a white crystal-like substance, and a contact lens case filled with a similar white crystal-like substance. The substance field-tested positive for fentanyl, according to the MCSO report.
When deputies asked about the substance that was found in the van, Money claimed that it did not belong to her. The MCSO report stated that Money then asked if the substance was fentanyl.
Money was arrested, transported to Marion County Jail, and she was later released on $4,500 bond. She is facing a felony charge for possession of fentanyl, along with misdemeanor charges for first-degree petit theft (over $100 but less than $300), possession of drug paraphernalia, and trespassing.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.