Sheriff Charles "Charlie" W. Morris, 59, of Shalimar, Fla. was arrested Friday, Feb. 27, by federal agents in Las Vegas, Nev. based upon a criminal complaint alleging violations of fraud from federally funded programs.

Morris was arrested Friday morning in Las Vegas and Morris's administrative director, Teresa Adams, 50, was taken into custody at the Sheriff's Office headquarters in Shalmar, Fl. according to Thomas F. Kirwin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, the U.S. Department of Justice said Friday.

Morris is expected to make an initial appearance Friday, Feb. 27, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada and is then expected to return to the Northern District of Florida.

"He will have his inital appearance in Nevada and then be brought back here," said Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Dixie A. Morrow.

According to the complaint filed in federal court, Morris, with the assistance of Adams, his director of administration and finance, created ficticious bonuses to sheriff's department employees. The complaint alleges that the employees were directed to return all or a portion of the bonuses in the form of cash or cashier's checks under the pretense that these returned funds were to be used for charitable purposes.

Adams is expected to make an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Elizabeth M. Timothy in Pensacola at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27.

Morris was given an executive order of suspension from Gov. Charlie Crist Friday and Edward M. Spooner was appointed interim sheriff.