NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The former Inglewood Elementary School PTO president was indicted on theft and fraud charges for allegedly using PTO funds for personal use.
Investigators with the Tennessee Comptroller's Office found that Angelica Hope Cooks misappropriated at least $5,781 between August 2015 and August 2017. The balance in the PTO’s only bank account on August 2017 was just $0.29.
The investigation began because school officials voiced their concerns to Metro Nashville Public Schools' internal auditors regarding unpaid PTO invoices.
Investigators say Cooks used at least three schemes to steal the PTO’s money for her personal benefit:
- Cooks made at least 135 personal purchases using the PTO’s debit cards. These purchases, which included meals at restaurants and other personal items, totaled $3,045.
- Cooks used PTO debit cards to make at least 27 ATM cash withdrawals totaling $1,287.
- Cooks stole at least $995 from the PTO account by making at least eight over-the-counter cash withdrawals.
“This scheme was not discovered for nearly two years because there was very little oversight of the PTO’s finances,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson in a press release. “All school support organizations are required to safeguard the funds and property of their respective organizations. In this case, the PTO failed to comply with the minimum amount of oversight required.”
As a result of Cooks’ misappropriation, the PTO incurred bank fees including overdraft fees, foreign ATM fees, ATM balance inquiry fees, etc., totaling at least $454.
School system officials suspended Inglewood Elementary School’s PTO operations in July 2017. In August 2020, the Davidson County Grand Jury indicted Angelica Hope Cooks on one count of theft over $2,500 and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card.
