A Warsaw woman is facing theft and forgery charges after allegedly taking more than $44,000 from the Madison School PTO.
Stephanie Ann Yentes, 1188 N. Santorini Drive, Warsaw, is charged with fraud on a financial institution, a Level 5 felony; theft, a Level 6 felony; and two counts of forgery, a Level 6 felony.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday, on March 2 Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputies talked to Madison Elementary School PTO members who told deputies of suspicious transactions on the organization’s Lake City Bank account.
Deputies received the banking information from Lake City Bank for the account and compared the information with the treasurer’s reports for the PTO. Deputies found the account was missing $24,363.32.
On March 17, deputies interviewed Yentes, who was the treasurer for the PTO during the time the money was taken from the account, according to court documents. Yentes provided her records and a copy of the bank account statement in question. She provided a treasurer’s report that said the Madison School PTO should have $25,773.67 with a handwritten note saying the bank account had a balance of $1,410.35 at that time.
According to court documents, Yentes told deputies she would use cash raised during fundraisers for personal use and not deposit the money into the PTO account.
When asked about several checks written on the PTO account to her husband, Yentes said she wrote the checks to her husband, signed and cashed them and used the funds herself, according to court documents.
After examining Lake City Bank records, deputies found two PTO checks written to Yentes’ husband and cashed at Teachers Credit Union into Yentes’ personal account. One check, written on July 10, 2017, was for $600. Another check, written on Aug. 3, 2017, to Yentes’ husband was for $500.
On March 22, deputies were contacted by members of the Madison School PTO who discovered an additional $20,117.02 that was missing from the organization. Members of the PTO said Yentes was writing checks to herself for reimbursements and for cash. The members noted Yentes would write in the memo line what the reimbursement was for and then would actually purchase the items on the organization’s credit card, according to court documents.
The PTO did a full audit from January 2017 until March 2021 and found a total of $44,480.34 was taken, according to court documents.
“Warsaw Community Schools appreciates the immense work and effort performed by the parent-teacher organizations and their members at WCS elementary, junior high and high schools. Annually, these independent organizations donate untold hours and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars, all to provide special opportunities tour students and educators. While not an official part of the school corporation, the parent-run, charitable organizations provide valuable support to our schools,” according to a statement provided by WCS.
“Sometimes a member of such volunteer groups will take advantage of these organizations, their comparatively informal structure and constantly changing membership,” stated the release.
“In late February, when new PTO officers began their terms, a review of the group’s finances occurred. During that review, the leadership team discovered numerous, unexplained irregularities with its bank account. A more thorough review was conducted and it was determined that approximately $20,000 could not be properly accounted for. The Madison PTO promptly reported the missing funds to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, who commenced an immediate investigation. On April 22, 2021, a warrant was issued for former Madison Elementary PTO Treasurer Stephanie Yentes,” according to the WCS statement.
“Madison Elementary PTO raises its own funds through various solicitations and fundraising activities; it does not receive any of Warsaw Community Schools’ funds or taxpayer monies. While none of the missing funds belong to the school corporation, WCS is assisting, where possible, the new PTO leadership, in sorting through this situation and providing advice wherever practical, such as whom to contact and future best practices designed to safeguard against a reoccurrence,” the release said.
WCS will cooperate in any investigation and prosecution conducted by law enforcement authorities.
“Warsaw Community Schools is greatly disappointed and saddened by the possible theft of money by a volunteer and parent. Madison Elementary School students and staff suffer because of this selfish act,” said the release.
School administrators are confident that the new PTO leadership will take appropriate action now and in the future, according to the release.
Yentes was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 10:04 a.m. Friday and has a $11,000 bond.
