Treasurer Accused of Embezzling High School Fishing Club FundsTreasurer Accused of Embezzling High School Fishing Club Funds The former treasurer of the Upperman High School fishing club in Baxter, Tennessee, has been arrested and charged with theft and forgery. Rosemary Downs is accused of taking nearly $15,000 from the club’s funds. According to authorities, Downs allegedly filled out and signed 15 bank withdrawal slips, withdrawing $11,215 in cash from the club’s account. She is also accused of withdrawing nearly $800 from ATMs, writing eight unauthorized checks to her husband totaling $2,393.82, and making two Carnival Cruise transactions totaling $400 using the club’s debit card. Downs admitted to investigators that she used the money for personal purchases but claimed to have donated more than $6,000 back to the club. However, investigators found no receipts or records to support this claim. The investigation also revealed that Downs had allegedly accepted a $1,000 cash donation from the Upper Cumberland Junior Bass Fishing Club while attending the High School Fishing World Finals in Wisconsin. However, Downs failed to provide a receipt or maintain any financial records for the disbursement of these funds. Comptroller Jason Mumpower expressed concern about the increasing number of booster club thefts in Tennessee. He emphasized the importance of having multiple signatures on all checks and a basic level of oversight to prevent such incidents. Rosemary Downs was arrested and charged with eight counts of theft over $10,000, eight counts of forgery of $10,000 or less, and three counts of fraudulent use of a credit card under $1,000. She is currently out on bond.
Treasurer accused of taking $15,000 from high school fishing club
Published 2:34 PM Monday, July 8, 2024
The former treasurer of the Upperman High School fishing club in Baxter, Tennessee, was charged with theft and forgery after being accused of embezzling nearly $15,000 in funds.
Former treasurer Rosemary Downs is accused of filling out and signing 15 bank withdrawal slips, withdrawing $11,215 in cash, withdrawing nearly $800 from ATMs, writing eight unauthorized checks to her husband totaling $2,393.82 and then endorsing the checks by putting her husband’s name on the back without his knowledge.
She is also accused of using the club’s debit card to make two Carnival Cruise transactions totaling $400.
“Booster club thefts continue to be a concern throughout Tennessee,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “As in many other cases, this situation involved one individual taking too much control of all financial functions without the involvement of others. A basic level of oversight would include requiring two signatures on all checks.”
Downs admitted to investigators that she used the money for personal purchases, but she also donated more than $6,000 to the club, which she said was her personal funds that she used to repay the club’s account.
“In September 2023, during the High School Fishing World Finals in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, Downs accepted a $1,000 cash donation from a representative of the Upper Cumberland Junior Bass Fishing Club,” the investigation report states. “Investigators were told the donation was to be used for expenses incurred by the Upperman Fishing Team while in Wisconsin. However, Downs failed to provide a receipt for these funds and failed to maintain any financial records, including invoices or receipts for the disbursement of these funds.”
