Welcome to Arrest Stories. A sixty-two-year-old former Catholic school principal in Broward County has been arrested after allegedly stealing over two hundred thousand dollars through an elaborate payroll fraud scheme that went undetected for nearly a decade. Here's what may have happened.
Lori St. Thomas, who dedicated nearly four decades to Catholic education, now faces serious fraud charges after authorities say she orchestrated an unauthorized extra pay scheme while serving as principal of Saint Coleman Catholic School. According to police reports, St. Thomas allegedly received an additional two hundred thirty-eight thousand one hundred ninety-six dollars through suspicious direct deposits between February two thousand sixteen and May two thousand twenty-five.
The longtime educator began her career with the Archdiocese of Miami in August nineteen eighty-six and served as Saint Coleman's principal from two thousand four until two thousand twenty-four. During her final nine years at the school, investigators say she systematically diverted unauthorized payments to herself through the payroll system.
The scheme unraveled when representatives from Saint Coleman Catholic School contacted the Broward Sheriff's Office after discovering irregularities in their financial records. Officials noted that the extra payments were processed through direct deposit in a manner that was not typical for the school's standard procedures.
"Any extra pay would need to be authorized by the head father or superintendent," officials explained during the investigation. However, authorities confirmed that "no documentation of the authorization of the extra pay was ever found."
After her employment ended at Saint Coleman in June two thousand twenty-four, St. Thomas transitioned to become principal of Mary Help of Christians Catholic School in Parkland before being terminated in October two thousand twenty-four.
In a surprising turn, St. Thomas voluntarily surrendered herself at the Broward County Courthouse on Thursday. She was processed on fraud charges with bond set at fifty thousand dollars.
School representatives have remained tight-lipped about the case, stating "As this is an active legal matter, we are unable to further comment at this time."
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.