Nubia Yareli Gonzalez, 38, is facing serious allegations of defrauding Cocopah Middle School's Association of Parents and Teachers (APT), according to documents sourced by FOX 10 Phoenix. The former treasurer of the group is accused of stealing over $36,500, officially being charged with theft, fraudulent schemes, and forgery in a case that has captured the attention of the Scottsdale community.
Gonzalez gained access and control over the APT's bank accounts on June 28, shortly thereafter making substantial withdrawals totaling $36,512.09, the police reports detail that the former treasurer stayed behind at the bank branch to siphon funds mere hours after the legitimate handover of signing powers was completed; she also appears to have deposited $22,300 into her personal account the same day. These findings are coupled with her being connected to a separate incident in Yuma County, where she reportedly has an outstanding warrant for using public money for personal use, a case currently sealed until her court appearance next week.
The suspect purportedly tried to cover her tracks, showing the APT president a fabricated bank account with a higher interest rate, a deceit that was later debunked by the bank, stating the screenshot "was not a legitimate view of their online banking system," as FOX 10 Phoenix reported. Moreover, Gonzalez is alleged to have created counterfeit bank emails to further mislead the APT president about the status of the funds.
Following public reports of the allegations and subsequent failed attempts to contact her, Gonzalez turned herself in on August 13, before any involvement of the Attorney General's Office which cannot comment on ongoing proceedings, culminating in a bond set at $40,000 for the Maricopa County case and a $30,000 bond for the case in Yuma County. Amidst this turmoil, the Scottsdale Unified School District and Cocopah Middle School APT have released statements underscoring their disappointment while reinforcing their commitment to integrity and their mission to support student education.
