FREEHOLD – A Manalapan woman who served as the treasurer for a Township elementary school’s PTA has been criminally charged with stealing more than $12,000 of its funds, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago announced Wednesday.
Roxanne Blasucci, 44, is charged with third-degree Theft by Unlawful Taking and fourth-degree Uttering a Forged Instrument.
An investigation initiated earlier this year by the Manalapan Police Department that grew to also involve members of the MCPO Financial Crimes & Public Corruption Unit determined that Blasucci had served as treasurer of the PTA for Taylor Mills School, an elementary school of several hundred students, since at least 2018.
During that time, the PTA hosted fundraising events generating cash proceeds, which were counted and given to Blasucci for deposit into the PTA bank account. An examination of financial records, witness statements, and other evidence revealed that on three occasions, from December 2021 through April 2022, Blasucci prepared and provided to the PTA bank statements documenting deposits totaling slightly more than $18,500 – but the official bank records only verified deposits in the amount of slightly more than $6,000. Additionally, in June 2022, Blasucci altered a PTA bank statement by omitting a debit-card transaction in the amount of $75.69 at a local Panera Bread, then understated electronic payments by that precise amount in an effort to hide the theft.
The Prosecutor’s Office extends its thanks to the Manalapan Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Lawrence Nelsen, Director of the MCPO Financial Crimes & Public Corruption Bureau. Information about Blasucci’s legal representation was not immediately available. Blasucci was served the charges against her via a summons pending future court proceedings.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
