Sequatchie Middle bookkeeper indicted for taking money

DUNLAP, Tenn. (WDEF) – A former bookkeeper for the Sequatchie County Middle School has been indicted on charges of stealing money.

The state Comptroller’s Office found that Rebecca Daughtrey took at least $18,322 from the school, but they say it could be more.

Investigators believe she either discarded or destroyed records.

Specifically, the investigation found she took money from school fundraisers, submitted unrecorded checks to cover the fact that she kept the cash for herself.

They also found she kept more than $3,000 of cash from six athletic event tickets, mainly to softball and basketball games.

“Schools are especially vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse when one person receives and deposits all the money collected,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “At the very least, an administrator should review the monthly bank statements. Unfortunately, Sequatchie County Middle School did not have these basic controls in place.”

You can read the full report here.

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.