Former Jericho PTA Treasurer Accused Of Stealing More Than $50K, 'Betrayal': SCDA

JERICHO, NY — A former Jericho Elementary School PTA treasurer was arrested and arraigned after second-degree grand larceny during her time in the district, Suffolk County DA said.

Jodi Scarlatos, 43, of Centereach, was accused of stealing more than $50,000 from the Jericho Elementary School Parent Teacher Association over three years, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Wednesday.

On April 20, Scarlatos surrendered to the District Attorney’s Office and was arraigned by District Court Judge Jonathan Bloom, the SCDA's office said.

She was released without bail since her charge is considered "non-bail eligible" under current New York State law – prosecutors cannot ask for bail and judges cannot set bail – according to the SCDA's office. The former PTA treasurer faces five to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count, and she is due back in court on May 5 of this year, the SCDA's office said.

From July 2020 through September 2023, Scarlatos served as the school's PTA treasurer and had access to the PTA bank account, the SCDA said. She was given a debit card that was to be used only for PTA-related expenses, and yet, after her time as treasurer ended, she was accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars, the SCDA said.

According to the SCDA, during the 2023 to 2024 school year, it was discovered that Scarlatos was accused of using PTA funds for personal expenses, such as at restaurants, Best Buy, Ticketmaster, hotels, rental cars, Amazon, and Verizon Wireless.

The Centereach woman was accused of making unauthorized transactions when school was not in session, including during summer and holiday breaks, as well as withdrawing cash from the PTA account and then re-depositing that money into her personal bank account, the SCDA said.

DA Tierney said that Parent Teacher Associations serve as vital functions in schools across the county.

"The allegations in this case represent a betrayal of the trust the residents of Centereach placed in this defendant, and my office will continue to hold accountable everyone who unlawfully enriches themselves at the public's expense," DA Tierney said.

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