Sheriff's Office: Pitt County PTA treasurer charged with embezzlement

The treasurer of the Hope Middle School Parent Teacher Association was charged Tuesday with embezzlement and other crimes, the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The agency said the school resource officer assigned to the school on April 8 received a report that Frances Deann Taylor, 37, was suspected of misappropriating funds from the PTA’s account.

An investigation determined that Taylor made over $16,000 in purchases unrelated to the PTA between December of 2022 and April of 2024.

She was arrested Tuesday and charged with 14 counts of embezzlement and four counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.

The release said the PTA is a volunteer organization overseen by volunteer officers and not operated by Pitt County Schools or Hope Middle School.