A former treasurer of a Rockford, Illinois, booster club was sentenced on July 23 to six months in federal prison for embezzling more than $44,000 from the organization. Shondra McLarty, 55, admitted to stealing money from the Tumbling and Acro Boosters Club between 2023 and 2024 while serving as treasurer.
According to prosecutors, McLarty used the club’s business debit card and caused checks to be issued for personal expenses including Netflix subscriptions, dog grooming services, a Menards purchase, a stretch limousine rental, and part of a vacation payment to Cancún, Mexico. She also changed the mailing address on the club’s bank accounts to her residence in order to conceal her actions.
McLarty pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud charges. U.S. District Court Judge Iain D. Johnston ordered her on Monday to serve six months in federal prison and pay full restitution.
The sentencing was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; with assistance from the Rockford Police Department.
“Defendant’s actions were deliberate and repeated, not the product of negligence or confusion,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim said in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “[The sentence] will signal to others who might be tempted to engage in similar schemes that such conduct carries significant consequences.”