Monroeville woman charged with Gateway club thefts turns self in
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A former president of two Gateway School District organizations turned herself in to Allegheny County District Attorney detectives Wednesday afternoon, a DA spokesman said.
Jennifer Murawski, 38, of Monroeville was charged Wednesday with stealing nearly $11,000 from fundraisers and debit card purchases made for her personal use.
Mike Manko, spokesman for District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., said Murawski turned herself in to detectives and was released on recognizance. Court records show she will appear before Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey Herbst Oct. 28 for a preliminary hearing.
Murawski was president of the family-teacher organization (FTO) at Mosside Middle School from 2017 to 2019 and the FTO at Evergreen Elementary School from 2015 to 2018, according to the criminal complaint filed against her.
She was charged Aug. 26 by Monroeville police with two counts of theft and misappropriation of funds.
Murawski did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
When confronted by authorities, Murawski said she and her husband accidentally used the FTO’s debit card, according to the criminal complaint. She said the card was kept in the same location as the couple’s own card and that it was issued by the same bank.
Officials said the FTO card was used make payments on PayPal and to buy items at Giant Eagle, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, Kennywood and other retailers.
The Monroeville woman is also accused of stealing profits of several book sales instead of depositing the money in FTO-related bank accounts.
More than $10,900 in FTO funds were unaccounted for even after Murawski repaid some of the missing money, authorities said.
Superintendent Bill Short was not immediately available to comment and Mary Beth Cirucci, president of the Gateway School District board, declined to comment.