Parent teacher student organizations often raise significant funds for Florida schools. Those in charge of handling these funds are not immune to allegations of embezzlement simply because they are associated with a school, possibly in a volunteer role. One woman was recently arrested for allegedly mishandling PTSO funds, and his since been charged with:
- Embezzlement
- Money laundering
- Credit card fraud
Missing PTSO funds
In Aug. 2020, authorities received a report that someone was possibly embezzling money from the PTSO. The woman in question was serving as the PTSO treasurer at the time. Police then carried out an investigation and concluded that they believed she had embezzled approximately $21,000 during her time as the organization’s treasurer.
Despite first being notified of the embezzlement in mid 2020, she was not arrested until Oct. 2021. After being taken into custody a judge set an unsecured bond at $5,000, which she later posted and was released. She is next expected to appear in court on Nov. 16, 2021.
Whether allegations involve hundreds and thousands of dollars from a multimillion-dollar company or hundreds from a local high school, prosecutors typically pursue embezzlement charges aggressively. Florida defendants often face jail time and steep fines, not to mention criminal records that may preclude them from certain educational or employment opportunities. Minimizing these types of criminal and personal consequences should be a priority for embezzlement defendants, and the first step to doing so often involves a thorough review of all charges and evidence under the guidance of a knowledgeable attorney.