A Broward County jury on Tuesday found former St. Coleman Catholic School principal Lori Ann St. Thomas guilty of an organized scheme to defraud, concluding she took unauthorized extra pay from the school over multiple years. Jurors returned the verdict after hours of deliberations, and courtroom observers said St. Thomas appeared downcast as the decision was read. Prosecutors allege the scheme siphoned roughly $238,000 in irregular stipends from school funds.
Jury Convicts, Judge Lets Her Stay Free While Sentencing Looms
Jurors convicted St. Thomas of an organized scheme to defraud, a charge that applies when aggregated losses top $50,000, and the judge ordered that she remain on pretrial release while the case moves toward sentencing. Prosecutors told the court they plan to ask for roughly 21 months behind bars, and the judge indicated sentencing would likely be scheduled in the coming weeks, according to reporting by Local 10.
Prosecutors Lay Out How the Payroll Plot Allegedly Worked
Prosecutors told jurors that St. Thomas used a separate, unauthorized bank account to receive additional direct payments described as stipends from about 2016 through 2024. Investigators say deposits into that account added up to roughly $238,196. According to investigators, school administrators spotted the irregular transactions and referred the matter to law enforcement, which triggered an investigation and her arrest last year. Those details were outlined in earlier coverage by WSVN.
Defense Says Extra Pay Was Approved, Not a Crime
St. Thomas’ lawyers told jurors the extra pay was authorized and tied to aftercare programs and cafeteria work, arguing that the records support those payments. “The doubt is overwhelming because evidence of a crime does not exist,” her attorney said during closing arguments, according to court reporting. The defense also suggested school administrators targeted her after she raised concerns about alleged misconduct by a school volunteer. Local 10 documented the courtroom exchanges.
Felony Stakes, State Statute and What Comes Next
Under Florida law, an organized scheme to defraud that nets $50,000 or more is a first-degree felony that can carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, according to the state statute on schemes to defraud (F.S. §817.034). Prosecutors say the amount alleged in this case puts it in that top tier. The court will resolve sentencing after routine post-trial procedures, and the case remains active as defense attorneys consider their options. The financial and employment background for the case was previously detailed in reporting by CBS News Miami.
The conviction closes the jury phase but opens a new chapter that will focus on punishment and any effort to challenge the verdict on appeal. Community members and parents who followed the case say the outcome raises hard questions about payroll controls at small private schools as local Catholic school officials and law enforcement prepare for the next court date.
