A Greenville County mother is apologizing after being accused of stealing thousands of dollars from her school's PTA fundraising account. Deputies arrested 32 year old Michelle Colantuono this week. Colantuono has served the last year as President of Armstrong Elementary School's PTA. Deputies were tipped off when fellow PTA board members came to them, after noticing money missing from their fundraising projects. "They went to the bank and all the checks were accounted for on the deposit slips, but there was zero cash," says Investigator Tim Martin.
The Sheriff's Office says Colantuono was pocketing the money, and then using it to pay bills. She's accused of stealing more than $14,000 between July 2009 and April 2010. The funds were supposed to be used for things like student activities and teacher supplies. "They were running out of money and didn't have any money to pay the teachers for supplies," says Martin. "They realized we've been doing all these fundraisers, we should have the money. And the money wasn't there."
Affadavits say Colantuono confessed to fellow PTA members. When Newschannel 7 spoke to her on the phone, she admitted her guilt. "Everyone in their life makes one bad mistake, and this was my mistake," she says. Colantuono claims she was separating from her husband, and got into financial trouble. "I've learned from it, and I'm sorry I did it," she says. "Whether they choose to forgive me that's their decision."
The 32 year old mother says she plans to pay the PTA back. "This is the first time I've ever done anything like this in my lifetime, I can promise you that. I won't ever do anything like this again. I have learned my lesson."
Colantuono is charged with breach of trust. She's out of jail on a $15,000 personal recognizance bond.
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