Former Kingsport PTA Official Stole More Than $5,500
Former Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School PTA official Donna Galloway stole at least $5,534 from her PTA organization from 2014 through 2017.
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in Galloway’s indictment after investigators determined she misappropriated over 96% of funds raised by Kingsport community members intended for the elementary school.
The investigation began after PTA board members reviewed PTA checking account records and discovered suspicious transactions.
Galloway, who served several terms as president and treasurer for the organization, assumed control over all PTA financial responsibilities with no oversight from other PTA board members.
For three years, Galloway stole from the PTA by keeping fundraising proceeds for herself, making cash withdrawals from the PTA account for her personal use, writing fraudulent personal checks to herself, and using PTA funds to go on at least eight personal Walmart shopping sprees. These Walmart purchases included Easter baskets, cat food, candy, groceries, toiletries, hair products, cough syrup, and other personal items.
Galloway resigned from the PTA board in December 2017 after new members asked about unexplained financial transactions.
In October 2019, Donna Galloway was indicted by the Sullivan County Grand Jury on one count of forgery over $10,000, one count of forgery over $2,500, and one count of theft over $2,500.
“These actions could have been prevented if the PTA had adopted financial controls, as required by state law,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “Not only did PTA officials fail to separate financial responsibilities, but they also did not retain supporting documentation for many purchases.”
It should be noted that the PTA ceased operations at the end of the 2019 school year.
To view the investigative report, go to: https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/investigations/find.html
If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline. Follow us on twitter: @TNCOT
Media contact: John Dunn, Director of Communications, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov.
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