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An unnamed former acting-President and Treasurer of the Wellsville Elementary School parent-teacher organization in Warrington Township took sole ownership of the organization’s debit card between Mar. 2020 and Jan. 2022, according to a release by Pennsylvania state police.
While the card was in the possession of the then-acting president, $1560 was withdrawn over the course of several ATM trips, and $3251.03 in purchases was charged to the card over numerous shopping trips— all of the funds were used for personal expenses, state police allege.
Nearly a decade ago, a similar situation occurred with the PTO at the same elementary school, according to a May 2012 report by WGAL News 8.
Patricia Ann Smith, 49, pleaded guilty to theft and forgery in connection with depositing 30 checks worth more than $33,000 from the Wellsville Elementary School PTO account into her personal account, according to court records and the outlet's initial record citing state police.
Smith served prison time, probation and paid more than $40,000 in restitution to the school organization, according to court records.
It is unclear how this sort of situation was allowed to occur within the same organization again.
The school listed the job of parent-teacher organization president as "vacant" in the Jan. 12, 2022 meeting minutes.
The investigation into the current charges is ongoing.
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