School bookkeeper charged with Grand Theft
A bookkeeper at a Lee County middle school is charged with stealing nearly $8,000.00 that was intended to benefit students at the school.
Yidenia Alonso, DOB 1-1-80, of 1564 Gretchen Avenue, Lehigh Acres, worked as a bookkeeper at Varsity Lakes Middle School. An internal audit by the Lee County School District showed money that Alonso collected from students, parents and teachers was unaccounted for. A complaint was made to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the case was turned over to LCSO’s Economic Crimes Unit.
The investigation revealed that between February 2009 and March 2010, Alonso was given $7,879.36 in cash and checks. The money was paid by parents for their children to attend the school’s morning program. Alonso also collected money from concession stand and ticket sales to school events. The investigation shows that Alonso was careful to deposit the checks she was given into the school’s account, but she would pocket much of the cash for herself.
Alonso is charged with Grand Theft and Scheme to Defraud.