Mom Pocketed $58,000 In Jefferson Academy PTO Funds: Prosecutors

GOLDEN, CO – An Arvada mom is accused of stealing more than $58,000 from a Broomfield-based charter school PTO over two years while she served as treasurer.

Jessica Kristina Tafoya, 36, was charged last week with felony theft-of-funds of an amount between $20,000-$100,000, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office said Monday. Tafoya allegedly "misappropriated funds" between 2015-2017 from the Jefferson Academy Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), prosecutors allege. Jefferson Academy has three locations is located in northern unincorporated JeffCo in Broomfield and Westminster and serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

In November, 2017 new officers of the PTO contacted the JeffCo Sheriff’s Office after noticing discrepancies in their financial records during the period when Tafoya was treasurer. Tafoya was the only authorized user on the PTO bank accounts and she had been given a debit card on the accounts, the DA's office said. Investigators found unauthorized ATM withdrawals, underpaid invoices, and transactions between the PTO’s accounts and her personal accounts, prosecutors allege. Investigators alleged Tafoya used the ATM card linked to the school's Wells Fargo account for personal purchases at at gas stations, fast food stops, Kohl's, Target, Walgreens, Best Buy, EstesPark; Kofomodo Sushi Bar and Gateaux restaurants in Denver, an arrest affidavit said.

The Jefferson Academy PTO's purpose is to raise money for student activities at the school through fundraising events such as book fairs and selling programs. The volunteer organization also organizes community events for families in the schools.

The next PTO general meeting is Tuesday Jan. 8 at 6 p.m. at Jefferson Academy Elementary at 9955 Yarrow Street in Broomfield, according to the PTO's Facebook page. PTO President Jerrilynn Lillyblade said via email that the PTO would talk about the arrest at the meeting.

A warrant was issued Dec. 28, 2018 for Tafoya's arrest. She turned herself in on Jan. 4 and posted $2,000 bond, the DA's office said. She is due in court later in the week.

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