PTA president accused of stealing money from Brooklyn students

NEW YORK (WABC) -- A PTA president in Brooklyn is now under arrest and accused of stealing thousands of dollars.

This was a large sum set aside for students at PS 216, but somehow it allegedly ended up in personal account linked to PTA president Suzanne Olney.

She appeared in court just hours ago and had little to say to Eyewitness News' cameras, but parents at the school are very vocal and outraged at these allegations.

"It's disgusting, I mean really disgusting, if you take away from a school and the PTA is supposed to give to the students," a parent said.

"I'm shocked because it's a matter of trust and people are appointed to be trusted," another parent said.

Parents say $14,000 could be put to good use many different ways for students at PS 216. Instead, investigators recently discovered that money stashed in a personal bank account linked to none other than the school's PTA president Suzanne Olney.

Eyewitness News was there as a teary-eyed Olney went before a judge inside Brooklyn Criminal Court Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, she allegedly made four online transfers from the school's PTA account to another personal account between May 19th and 27th.

When confronted about the missing cash by authorities, Olney immediately returned $10,000, but was arrested shortly after.

Her attorney calls this case a misunderstanding and maintains his client has done nothing wrong, but parents we talked to say it doesn't add up.

"That's insane, I had no idea that that even happened," said Mila Kravchenko, a parent.

"I don't understand, somebody in a position like that is supposed to be responsible," a parent said.

"I always see it this way, you can only lie to a certain point until you get caught and like you know the string comes to an end," another parent said.

A spokesman for the city Education Department says: "While PTA members are not school employees, they are part of the school community. The alleged misconduct is deeply disappointing and betrays the trust the PS 216 school community placed in her. We are cooperating with the NYPD on their investigation."

Olney was released on her own recognizance and has another court scheduled appearance next month.