Lansdowne Elementary’s outgoing PTO president Ashley Seymour was arrested this week and charged with felony embezzlement after investigators said money raised for school programs was siphoned off for personal use. Authorities allege nearly $15,000 is missing, tied to a mix of credit card charges and unrecorded cash from school events.
School and PTO leaders have told families they have put interim leadership in place and say classroom instruction and student safety are not affected while the investigation plays out. Court filings show Seymour was released on bond as the case moves through Mecklenburg County courts.
What investigators allege
According to WSOC‑TV, investigators say texts, emails and transaction records show Seymour used a PTO credit card for personal purchases multiple times between October 2024 and December 2025. The PTO executive board filed a police report after spotting the discrepancy in the books, and Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Schools has said it will run its own review.
Court entries cited by WSOC‑TV show Seymour posted a $15,000 bond in order to be released while the case is pending. The new charge centers on money raised for classroom supplies, teacher appreciation efforts and student activities, investigators say.
Record shows earlier conviction
Local public radio reporting confirms the current embezzlement charge and notes that this is not the first time Seymour has faced such an allegation. Court records reviewed by WFAE indicate she was previously convicted of embezzlement in 2020 and ordered to pay roughly $99,000 in restitution.
That past case, along with the new accusation involving funds meant for school programs, is raising fresh questions among parents about who is watching the money and how closely.
Community reaction
For many families at the south Charlotte school, the news landed like a gut punch. Parents and grandparents said they were blindsided by the allegations and are now wondering how much damage was done and whether any of the money can be clawed back.
“I’m just shocked because, I know a lot of the staff members here. My kids been going here. I’m really shocked,” parent Tomika Stephens told WSOC‑TV. Other family members said they want clear answers about how the alleged oversight failures happened and what will change going forward.
A wider pattern in school fundraising fraud
This is hardly the first time a school‑related group in the region has been shaken by embezzlement claims. In 2021, WBTV documented an indictment in which a booster‑club president and his wife were accused of stealing more than $200,000. In a separate 2025 Mooresville case, the Charlotte Business Journal reported that a bookkeeper was sentenced for embezzlement tied to school‑related funds.
Those earlier incidents pushed some districts and parent groups to tighten financial safeguards, including requiring two signatures on checks, doing regular account reconciliations and bringing in outside audits. The Lansdowne case is likely to renew calls for that kind of belt‑and‑suspenders approach wherever parents are handling large sums of cash.
Legal next steps
The case remains under active investigation by the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Police Department and is moving through the county court system, where prosecutors will decide whether to pursue any additional charges. Seymour’s release on bond does not settle the matter. She is legally presumed innocent unless and until she is convicted in court.
Officials have not publicly released a detailed court schedule as the inquiry continues, leaving parents waiting to see how the legal process and any potential restitution efforts will unfold.
