CUMMING, Ga. — Cumming Police said it had obtained warrants for the arrest of a 36-year-old Cumming resident who is accused of taking nearly $8,000 from a school's parent teacher organization (PTO).
Jamie Garfield, 36, of Cumming, was charged with theft of funds from the Cumming Elementary PTO.
Garfield formerly served for several years as the treasurer for the Cumming Elementary PTO, according to a Cumming police spokesman.
At the time the theft was reported in August 2010, she was no longer treasurer, said Sgt. Bryan Zimbardi.
Warrants were taken for the amount of $7,911.82.
"She's still under investigation for a much larger amount," Zimbardi said. "Right now, the warrant was taken for $7,911.82."
"There's still a fair portion of this that is under investigation," Zimbardi said.
The thefts were occurring for about 21 months prior to August 2010.
"A lot more information will be released when this case is closed," Zimbardi said.
The thefts were discovered when board members of the Cumming Elementary PTO learned one of their accounts was overdrawn.
The elementary school PTO members approached Cumming Police Department, which launched an investigation of suspected criminal activity. The PTO is an organization made up of volunteers.
PTO groups are not under school district oversight and often raise funds for additional learning resources and student equipment not covered by a school's budget.
The PTO has reinforced its monthly financial review with additional oversight and annually completes an external audit.
Cumming Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division finished its investigation recently and obtained warrants from Superior Court for Garfield's arrest.
At this time, Zimbardi said, Garfield's whereabouts are unknown. The Forsyth County Sheriff's warrant division is looking for her.
"Though the PTO is a separate organization that is not under the school district's financial controls or procedures," said Forsyth County School District Spokeswoman Jennifer Caracciolo. "We are always saddened when there are allegations of behavior by adults that negatively impact children in any way."
Labels: Cumming Elementary, Forsyth, Forsyth County, Forysth County, PTO
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 10:48 AM
