By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an apartment maintenance worker who stole jewelry from a Palm Coast resident at Tuscan Reserve Apartments and sold it to various pawn shops, and detectives are now seeking additional victims in this case.
On December 22, 2024, the victim contacted the FCSO Communications Center to report a delayed burglary of numerous pieces of jewelry. The victim stated there was no forced entry to the apartment and the only person who would have had access to their apartment during the time of the burglary was the apartment complex’s maintenance worker. Detective First Class Diego Morales of FCSO’s General Assignment Unit responded and started an investigation.
The next day, the victim called back to inform deputies that she had found some of the stolen jewelry at a pawn shop in Bunnell. Deputies responded to the location and the jewelry was positively identified. The transaction receipt from the pawn shop showed that Joshua Powell, 44, of Satsuma, Florida, had sold the jewelry on December 13, 2024. Powell at the time was employed as the apartment complex’s maintenance worker.
Through investigative means, Detective First Class Morales determined that Powell had been to 10 different pawn shops throughout Flagler and Volusia counties and sold a total of 33 items, mostly women’s jewelry, since November 4, 2024.
On January 13, Powell was arrested for Burglary, four counts of False Verification of Ownership, four counts of Dealing in Stolen Property, and Criminal Mischief. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he was later released on a $17,000 bond.
Joshua Powell (Flagler County Jail Mugshot)
Detectives are searching for additional victims due to Powell having had access to multiple apartments during his time of employment and the significant number of times he pawned and sold jewelry. Residents at Tuscan Reserve Apartments in Palm Coast are encouraged to check for missing jewelry items and contact the FCSO non-emergency line at 386-313-4911 (reference FCSO case no. 2025-109737) if they believe items have been stolen.
“This man was trusted to access people’s apartments and betrayed that trust and stole from them,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Detectives are hard at work seeking additional victims to make sure this dirtbag is held accountable for all his crimes. I encourage all Tuscan Reserve Apartments residents to double-check and make sure that nothing is missing and if it is try to recover your property.”
