Thousands Stolen In 2 Separate NJ School, Sports Thefts, Cops Say

In two separate New Jersey towns, community leaders allegedly took it upon themselves to steal thousands of dollars from funds that ultimately benefit children.

In the two cases, both of which were revealed on Wednesday, thousands of dollars were allegedly siphoned away and deposited into personal checking accounts by community leaders, police said.

The former Pine Beach Elementary Parent Teacher Organization president was charged Tuesday with stealing more than $14,000 from the PTO's bank account, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said. Read more: Former Pine Beach Elementary PTO Pres. Stole $14K In Funds, OCPO Says

In Woodbridge, one of the adult volunteers of the Woodbridge High School boys' soccer team has been charged with stealing money from the team, police announced Wednesday. Read more: School Secretary Stole From Woodbridge Boys' Soccer Team: Police

The cases were similar to one involving a 57-year-old Rumson man who was recently accused of stealing more than $25,000 from the football booster club between April 2017 and July 2018. Read more: Ex-Head Of Rumson-Fair Haven Touchdown Club Charged With Theft

Here is what also happened in the two most recent cases:

• Jennifer Maguire of Beachwood made repeated cash withdrawals from the Pine Beach PTO account that coincided with deposits into her personal checking account, the OCPO announced Wednesday. Maguire, who served as PRO president until May, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, the OCPO said. Maguire, 48, was processed and released on a summons, according to the OCPO. Read more here...
• Police say that for more than a year, more than $6,000 that was received from student fundraisers, donations and club dues was electronically transferred from the Woodbridge High School boys' soccer team account into Stacey Castro's personal checking account. Read more here...