ALATKA, Fla. – A Putnam County Sheriff’s Office bailiff has been arrested and fired after deputies learned he was wanted in Georgia on two felony forgery warrants related to an alleged check fraud scheme.
According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, 34-year-old Warren Zapata was taken into custody Tuesday while at work after detectives confirmed he was wanted by the Perry Police Department in Georgia.
The warrants stem from an investigation involving the alleged forgery of checks connected to the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Georgia, dating back to August 2025.
Authorities said Zapata was interviewed by Perry police in February but did not disclose that he was employed as a law enforcement officer. Investigators also said he never informed the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office that he was the subject of a criminal investigation.
An arrest warrant was issued in March, but the sheriff’s office remained unaware of it until a third party notified the agency.
After learning of the warrants, Putnam County detectives contacted the Perry Police Department to verify the information before arresting Zapata at the courthouse.
Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach said Zapata claimed he was a victim in the case but criticized him for failing to report the investigation or cooperate with another law enforcement agency.
“I am beyond disgusted at the moral turpitude of this now former employee,” DeLoach said in a statement. “He knew he was being investigated and at no time did he inform his supervisors about this situation, nor did he assist in the investigation by Georgia.”
The sheriff added that Zapata can now answer the allegations in Georgia without being employed by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Zapata was hired by the agency in 2018 and had no prior disciplinary history.
His employment was terminated following his felony arrest. He was booked into the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held without bond pending extradition proceedings.
The Perry Police Department is leading the criminal investigation. No additional information has been released.