ROBERTA, Ga. — A Crawford County Board of Education employee was arrested this week amid a GBI investigation into possible embezzlement.
According to a news release from the GBI, 37-year-old Denise Lucas was arrested on Wednesday and charged with theft by taking involving the theft of more than $60,000 of county funds.
Lucas was taken to jail and processed, where they added a charge of theft by conversion from Peach County.
The GBI says both charges are felonies punishable between 2-20 years in prison.
CASE HISTORY
Crawford School Superintendent Brent Lowe said the case developed after he discovered discrepancies in a bank account.
He says he went to speak to BB&T bank officials on June 5 to examine the account. While he was out of the building, he said, Lucas resigned and didn't return.
Lowe says she left a note saying she was unhappy with her job and wasn't paid enough. He said he hasn’t talked to her since.
She worked for the district for 15 years, and the school board promoted her this spring from human-resources coordinator to payroll and benefits coordinator.
"We thought very highly of her," said Lowe, who called her a "loyal and capable employee."
Roberta Police then requested the GBI’s help with a theft/embezzlement investigation with Crawford County Board of Education funds.
The investigation revealed that Lucas, a 15-year employee of the board of education, had embezzled money over a 2.5-year period, says the release.
The investigation is ongoing and will be turned over to the District Attorney’s office once it’s been completed.
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