BCSO Economic Crimes Task Force Arrests Brevard Public School Bookkeeper
By Brevard County Sheriff // May 15, 2015
Natalie Jean Jones, 46, arrested
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Agents with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Economics Crime Task Force have arrested 46-year-old Natalie Jean Jones for embezzling funds totaling over $100,000 from Southwest Middle School while she was employed as a bookkeeper.
The arrest was completed today after an arrest warrant was issued charging her with Grand Theft and Scheming to Defraud. Jones was transported to the Brevard County Jail where she is being held on $100,000 bond.
In late 2014, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Task Force assumed an investigation into allegations of grand theft by an employee of Southwest Middle School located in Palm Bay.
The investigation uncovered the theft, which began in 2007 that continued until Jones was confronted by school officials in 2014 after an internal audit identified inconsistencies.
The investigation determined that Jones was allegedly conducting a scheme to defraud by preparing a legitimate check to a vendor, which was recorded in the school’s disbursement journal.
Jones would then void the check and write a new check to herself, forging the second necessary signature. The internal documentation in the school’s general ledger reflected the vendors as being paid, concealing the actual payment to herself.
In all, 110 checks totaling approximately $108,000 were traced to Jones’ personal bank accounts where they were cashed and the proceeds were used to her benefit.
The Economic Crime Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Sheriff’s Office along with participation from the Melbourne and Titusville Police Departments in partnership with the State
Anyone with information about this Investigation is asked to please call Brevard County Sheriff’s Office ECU Agent Frank Scott at 321-633-8410, or CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
You can also visit Crimeline.org, or text ‘crimeline’ plus your tip to CRIME (274637). All information to CRIMELINE is confidential and you may be eligible for a reward.
