Tucson Unified School District—Criminal Indictment—Theft and Misuse of Public Monies

As part of their responsibility to prevent and detect fraud, Tucson Unified School District (District) officials took appropriate action by reporting to us an allegation of financial misconduct by Rosa Ordonez, former bookstore finance manager at Pueblo High School. Our investigation revealed that in July and August 2018, Ms. Ordonez may have embezzled $2,974 of bookstore receipts and change funds, cash provided from the District to Pueblo High School to make change for cash transactions. Additionally, from 2006 through 2015, she failed to deposit checks totaling $3,309, depriving Pueblo High School of its revenue. We have submitted our report to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which on September 20, presented evidence to the State Grand Jury. The action resulted in Ms. Ordonez’s indictment on 3 felony counts related to theft and misuse of public monies.