LAKE WORTH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Lake Worth man is accused of stealing sensitive computer equipment from the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office, triggering an investigation that led to his arrest and the recovery of multiple electronic devices.
Detectives with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office were called to the Supervisor of Elections facility at 4301 Cherry Road on March 27, 2026, after officials reported the theft of an encrypted access key tied to a voter registration system. The device had been used during a volunteer training session held March 19 ahead of the county’s March 24 election.
According to investigators, the key was removed from a voter registration terminal during that training session. The device was configured to interact only with training databases, not live election systems. Even so, the theft raised concern due to the nature of the equipment and its potential misuse if altered.
Detectives identified the suspect as John Dominick Panicci of Lake Worth and developed probable cause in the case. Investigators determined that while the access key was limited to training environments, someone with sufficient technical knowledge could attempt to reverse engineer the encryption and reintroduce the device into a voter registration kiosk in a way that could disrupt or manipulate systems.
Based on that investigation, deputies secured both an arrest warrant and a search warrant for Panicci’s residence.
On March 28, law enforcement executed the search warrant at the residence listed in voter records as 4399 Theresa Court in Lake Worth. Panicci was located at the home and taken into custody without incident.
During the search, detectives recovered the stolen access key along with what they described as a substantial quantity of electronic equipment and digital storage devices. Authorities have not detailed the full inventory of items seized or whether additional analysis is underway.
Jail records show Panicci was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail at 8:11 p.m. on March 28. He is charged with property crimes related to taking computer equipment and supplies, as well as a separate charge of grand theft. Bond was listed at $250 for the theft charge, with no bond set on the property crime count.
The Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Office oversees voter registration, election administration, and related systems across the county. Training sessions like the one held March 19 are used to prepare temporary staff and volunteers who assist during election cycles.
The incident did not involve live voter data systems, according to the investigation. However, authorities emphasized the importance of securing all election-related equipment, including training tools, due to the potential risks associated with unauthorized access or modification.
State voter records list Panicci as a registered Democrat in Palm Beach County, with an active registration dating to 2001.
Panicci is scheduled for first appearance court proceedings following his arrest. The case remains under investigation by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Check the latest Boca Raton arrest reports for confirmed bookings, criminal charges, and police enforcement activity.
