TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University (FAMU) Athletic Director Angela Suggs was arrested Monday on multiple fraud and theft charges tied to her previous role as CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation (FSF).
Suggs, 55, was booked into Leon County Jail and later released on a $13,500 bond. She faces two felony charges: grand theft and scheme to defraud, along with four misdemeanor counts for filing false claims on travel vouchers.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) reported that Suggs allegedly used a corporate credit card for personal purchases totaling more than $24,000, including wire transfers, cash withdrawals, and casino expenses during business trips. The misuse took place during her tenure at FSF, a direct-support organization under the Florida Department of Commerce.
The investigation began in November 2024 after a referral from the Inspector General’s Office, which conducted an audit of her FSF credit card usage. The audit revealed that Suggs falsified travel vouchers, often coding personal charges as business meals. Although she acknowledged some of the charges, claiming they were either business-related or accidental, the FDLE said she failed to fully reimburse the FSF.
FAMU Interim President Timothy Beard responded to the arrest with a statement, noting that the allegations are connected to Suggs’ time with a former employer and not her current role.
“While the matter is unrelated to her duties as an employee at FAMU, we are monitoring the situation and will respond in the future as appropriate,” Beard stated.
Suggs, who made headlines in April for hiring 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward as FAMU’s new men’s basketball coach, did not have an attorney listed in jail records at the time of her release.
