Former Suffolk PTA Treasurer Pleads Guilty To $50K Grand Larceny: SCDA

CENTEREACH, NY — A former Jericho Elementary School PTA Treasurer pleaded guilty to grand larceny, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office announced on Friday.

According to SCDA Raymond Tierney, Jodi Scarlatos, 44, of Centereach pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny after she was accused of stealing more than $50,000 from the Jericho Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association.

Scarlatos pleaded guilty on Oct. 15 before District Court Judge James A. McDonaugh, and as part of her plea, she has already paid back a portion of restitution, but owes a remaining $32,678.11, the DA's office said. She is due back in court on April 13, 2027, prosecutors said.

"This is the second conviction this year of a PTA officer stealing money meant for the benefit of children," DA Tierney said. "Stealing from an elementary school PTA is a disgraceful betrayal of the students, parents and teachers who work hard to give children opportunities to succeed."

From July 2020 through September 2023, Scarlatos served as the school's PTA treasurer and had access to the PTA bank account and a debit card to be used for PTA-related expenses, the DA's office said.

During the 2023 to 2024 school year, it was discovered that Scarlatos used thousands of dollars of PTA funds for personal expenses, such as at restaurants, Best Buy, Ticketmaster, hotels, rental cars, Amazon, and Verizon Wireless, prosecutors said.

She also used PTA funds during summer and holiday breaks without authorization, the DA's office said.

The DA's office said Scarlatos also withdrew cash from the PTA account and then re-deposited that money into her personal bank account.

On April 20, Scarlatos surrendered to the DA's office and was arraigned by District Court Judge Jonathan Bloom, prosecutors said.

Scarlatos is being represented by Alia Richards, Esq., and this case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tara K. O'Donnell of the Public Corruption Bureau. The investigation was conducted by the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Squad, the DA's office said.