Little League treasurer accused of stealing $17K from organization

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A Florida woman who was the treasurer for a Little League organization is accused of stealing nearly $17,000 in league funds for her use, authorities said.

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Paula Star Pugh, 48, of Pensacola, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of fraud and one count of larceny, according to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office online booking records.

Pugh, who was elected as the treasurer and bookkeeper of the Northwest Escambia Little League in 2017, allegedly made unauthorized transactions to her personal account between July 26, 2021, and Dec. 9, 2022, the Pensacola News Journal reported.

According to an arrest report, Pugh spent $16,977.87 without the consent of the league’s board of directors, according to WEAR-TV.

League officials reported the discrepancies in funds to the sheriff’s office on Dec. 20, 2022, the News Journal reported.

According to the arrest report, there were 43 unauthorized transactions, including 25 ATM withdrawals in Atmore, Alabama, the newspaper reported. The ATM withdrawals totaled $6,304, WEAR reported, citing the arrest report.

Five checks were written to Pugh and four included purchases at Dick’s Sporting Goods totaling $1,131.45, according to the television station.

Other charges included transactions at gas stations and Papa Johns pizza restaurants, the News Journal reported.

According to an investigation, a tournament that ended in June 2022 yielded a cash profit of $10,012.66, WEAR reported. Pugh then allegedly texted the league’s president, saying that she would make a deposit of $2,690. According to the arrest report, the only deposit made that day was for $1,557.10, the television station reported.

An investigator met with Pugh on March 8, according to AL.com. She allegedly said she was about to provide documentation for the transactions. On April 3, she had not provided documentation and told the investigator she would be meeting with an attorney, the news outlet reported.

A warrant was issued for Pugh’s arrest. She posted $5,000 bail 22 minutes after she was booked into the Escambia County Jail, online records show.