A parent from Baltimore embezzled $29,000 from a school fundraiser, using the funds for DraftKings and FanDuel activities.
This month, James Michael Harris, the former treasurer of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association at Stemmers Run Middle School, entered a guilty plea for theft. The police had initially issued a warrant for his arrest in the preceding July. According to court documents, Harris began stealing funds from the account as early as April 2022.
According to the Baltimore Banner, a school staff member and a parent confronted Harris after growing suspicious, leading him to confess to the theft. Harris admitted to spending thousands of dollars on personal expenses and the remainder on gambling platforms such as FanDuel and DraftKings.
Rosemary Roos-Whitney, the president of the PTSA, highlighted the profound impact of the theft, which has had far-reaching consequences throughout the school.
Following the incident, various activities have been disrupted: student-athletes no longer have snacks available after school, dances have been canceled, gifts for staff during Teacher Appreciation Week have ceased, and parent volunteers have resigned from the PTSA. Moreover, the PTSA has encountered difficulties in settling the $6,815 debt owed to World’s Finest Chocolate, the provider of treats for the school.
“Those kids worked so hard to raise that money and they got nothing for it in return,” Roos-Whitney said. “It’s really disappointing.”
Nevertheless, Harris has agreed to a plea deal that deferred sentencing for six months to facilitate his payment of restitution. Using funds marked for his retirement, Harris has already paid $8,000. However, he still faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
