SARASOTA, Fla. -- Detectives have arrested a Sarasota woman after she stole nearly $85,000 from Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.
According to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, detectives began their investigation in May after the CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida reported more than $75,000 missing from their account. The Member Services Coordinator, 41-year-old Stephanie Person, was immediately identified as a possible suspect since she handled troop funds and banking.
The investigation revealed that although Person was responsible for the management of 500 individual troops, she had been using an inactive troop account to transfer money to herself.
Electronic evidence and surveillance photos from various banks throughout Sarasota County confirmed Person had withdrawn nearly $85,000 in troop funds. She admitted to detectives that she was having financial hardships and when she realized how easy it was to take the money, she could not stop.
Detectives arrested Person early Wednesday morning and charged her with Grand Theft and Scheme to Defraud. She is currently being held at the Sarasota County Jail on $9,000 bond. The investigation is ongoing.
