PORT MANATEE – Port Manatee's CFO and deputy executive director, Robert J. Armstrong, has been fired. Armstrong was under investigation after his son, a former port employee, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly stealing items from the port and selling them to a pawn shop.

The Herald Tribune reported that on Thursday afternoon port director Carlos Buqueras terminated Armstrong's employment and did not comment on specifics. Armstrong, who earned $149,000 a year in the dual-role position, had admitted to police that he bought some of the items back from the pawn shop and returned them to the port.

His son, Robert B. Armstrong, had been fired from his job at the port following the arrests and currently faces multiple charges related to theft and sale of stolen property. The senior Armstrong was initially allowed to stay on while the incident was investigated, however, following citizen comment on the matter at last Thursday's Port Authority Board meeting and the negative press which resulted, Armstrong was put on paid leave.  

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Port Manatee CFO Placed on Paid Leave After Son's Theft Brings Bad Press

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