Former PTA President Stole from Metro Nashville Elementary School
Tiffany Bell indicted for theft from AZ Kelley PTA
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Tiffany Bell, the former Parent Teacher Association (PTA) president at AZ Kelley Elementary School. The investigation began after Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and PTA officials reported unauthorized financial transactions to the Comptroller’s Office.
Investigators determined that Bell stole at least $5,589.18 from the PTA. All of the money was stolen between May and August 2017. Bell resigned as PTA president in November 2017 after she was questioned by other parents about the unusual activity in the PTA account over the summer.
Bell stole the money by using the PTA’s debit card to make ATM cash withdrawals totaling at least $4,720. An additional $869.18 was misappropriated when Bell used the debit card to make purchases, which included groceries and other personal items from retailers like Walmart, Kmart, and Family Dollar.
In July 2017, Bell deposited $150 of her own money into the PTA bank account; however, a cash shortage of $5,439.18 remained. AZ Kelley PTA is no longer active.
Investigators are also questioning $271.71 that was used to purchase items from Amazon during the summer of 2017. PTA officials regularly made purchases from Amazon for legitimate purposes. Investigators and PTA officials could not determine if these Amazon purchases were used exclusively for the benefit of the PTA.
In June 2021, Tiffany Jomicka Bell was indicted by the Davidson County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $2,500 and one count of fraudulent use of a credit card over $2,500
“Although this organization is no longer active, lessons can be learned from this case,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “School support organizations must ensure they provide adequate oversight over all collections and maintain supporting documentation, such as invoices or receipts, for all expenditures.”
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: tncot.cc/fraud. Follow us on twitter @TNCOT and Instagram @tncot
Media contact: John Dunn, Director of Communications, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov
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