Treasurer steals from textbook cookie jar

Submitted by Rick Yencer on Thu, 04/12/2012 - 9:31pm.

MUNCIE, IN - Another case of embezzling public funds, this time from the textbook fund at Delta High School, has been filed in Delaware Circuit Court 4.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller sued Debra True, former extracurricular treasurer of Delta, accusing her of stealing $10,727 from the textbook cookie jar.

This remarkable case involved a woman who had several last names and moved around during her life. And she was even bonded by the school's insurer, Ohio Farmer's Insurance, that also was named in the state suit.

The money in question was textbook fees during 2008-10 that was not accounted, according to the State Board of Accounts. True"s actions amounted to malfeasance, said SBA auditors who told her to repay the money.

The local prosecutor also got a heads up of the embezzlement and turned it over the the Indiana State Police to investigate.

Zoeller told the media that the accused betrayed the trust of parents, students, and taxpayers, and he assured the school that the money would be returned. "For many families with school-age children, textbook rental fees are a costly expense each school year, and parents dig into their pockets to pay these fees," he said.

Other recent public fund thefts include the local YWCA, state children services and other school corporations and small towns.