PTSO treasurer embezzled $309,360, much of it for online gambling, NC cops say
The treasurer of a Parent Teacher Student Organization is facing embezzlement accusations, after investigators discovered tens of thousands of dollars had been used for online gambling, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
An accounting has so far discovered $309,360 was improperly spent, the sheriff’s office said in a Nov. 20 news release.
The PTSO is affiliated with Cuthbertson High School in Waxhaw, and the investigation began Nov. 12 when a school resource officer “was notified of a potential misused of funds,” officials said.
“An initial review indicated that the treasurer ... had been improperly diverting organizational funds for use on online gambling platforms. Early findings revealed 61 transactions totaling approximately $85,000 linked to these sites,” the sheriff’s office says.
“As the investigation progressed, detectives identified a larger pattern of unauthorized activity, uncovering a total of $309,360 in misappropriated funds. This case remains active, and the Sheriff’s Office Digital Forensic Examiner is currently analyzing 14 electronic devices for additional evidence.”
The treasurer has been charged with embezzlement, officials said. Bond was set at $100,000.
Cuthbertson High School has a student population of just over 1,900 in grades 9 through 12, according to Greatschools.org.
Waxhaw is about a 30-mile drive southeast from Charlotte.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 5:33 AM.