Yucca Elementary School District - Theft and Misuse of Public Monies

As part of its responsibility to prevent and detect fraud, the Yucca Elementary School District (District) administration took appropriate action by reporting a fraud allegation to our Office. Consequently, we conducted an investigation revealing that from November 2010 to January 2013, Shannon Cavalliere, former district business manager, may have violated state laws related to theft and misuse of public monies when she embezzled $4,361. Specifically, Ms. Cavalliere used the District’s credit and debit cards 69 times for personal purchases and cash withdrawals totaling $3,891. Additionally, Ms. Cavalliere improperly paid herself $470 for mileage while also using the District’s credit card at service stations for the same trips. Ms. Cavalliere embezzled and misused these public monies by taking advantage of the District’s lack of oversight and inadequate controls over the District’s credit card transactions and a bank account that the District erroneously authorized.

On February 19, 2015, the Mohave County Attorney’s Office presented evidence of Ms. Cavalliere’s alleged crimes to the Mohave County Grand Jury, resulting in her indictment on three felony counts.