{"id":1570,"date":"2026-06-02T18:34:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T18:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=1570"},"modified":"2026-06-02T18:34:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T18:34:05","slug":"former-eduprize-pto-president-arrested-accused-of-stealing-tens-of-thousands-of-dollars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottsdalemovinghub.com\/?p=1570","title":{"rendered":"Former Eduprize PTO President arrested, accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PHOENIX \u2014 A former parent-teacher organization president at Eduprize Charter School in Queen Creek has been arrested and charged with felony theft and fraud after authorities alleged she stole tens of thousands of dollars from the organization she once led.<\/p>\n

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According to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, former PTO president Jocelyn Carranza was taken into custody on Friday on a warrant and faces charges of theft and fraudulent schemes and artifices. Investigators allege Carranza stole between $25,000 and $100,000 from PTO accounts over several years.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The arrest follows concerns raised by current and former PTO board members, who began questioning the organization\u2019s finances last year after discovering missing funds.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Former board member Jaime Accalia said last August that Carranza was the only individual with access to the group\u2019s Wells Fargo account. Concerns intensified when the PTO reportedly lacked sufficient funds to reimburse a teacher for a student field trip, despite expectations that enough money should have been available.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cNobody had access,\u201d Accalia said when asked whether anyone else could access the account.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Board members have long suspected that PTO funds intended to benefit students and school programs were instead used for personal expenses. Accalia pointed to what she described as an expensive lifestyle that included sporting event season tickets, travel and youth sports activities. \u201cShe goes to NASCAR. She’s a season pass holder for the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks. Her kid plays club baseball. They’re in everything,\u201d Accalia said.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Current and former board members said they have fully cooperated with the law enforcement investigation and hope the organization can eventually recover the missing funds. \u201cI hope that she gets brought to justice,\u201d Accalia said. \u201cI would hope that the school would get reimbursed from that money, but I don’t see that happening. I’m sure, with all of the extravagant trips she was taking, it\u2019s spent. But I just want to see it come to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In a statement, current PTO board members said they are focused on rebuilding trust with parents, donors and the broader school community. They said that effort has been ongoing since Carranza was removed as board president last summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Carranza has not publicly commented on the allegations despite requests for comment. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance on June 12.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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