By admin 
MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — A former parent-teacher organization treasurer at a Mesa elementary school is accused of stealing nearly $10,000, using the funds to pay for Disney on Ice tickets, rent and car repairs.
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Chandra Cushman was charged with one count of theft for the alleged crimes, which spanned from 2023-2025.
Court documents state that in Aug. 2022, Cushman was elected as PTO treasurer at Whitman Elementary School in Mesa. Shortly afterward, she was added as a signer onto the PTO’s existing Wells Fargo bank account and issued a debit card for PTO expenses.
Between Feb. 1, 2023 and Dec. 9, 2024, investigators say Cushman withdrew cash from the PTO account at least 10 times and deposited “some or all of these funds” into her own Wells Fargo account.
In one instance, court documents state Cushman used the PTO debit card to buy Disney on Ice tickets for herself and her daughter, totaling $218.30. She also reportedly used the card twice for car repairs, amounting to $846.55.
Cushman stole $3,468.24 to pay for her apartment rent with the PTO money, court documents state. She also made two $170.04 wireless lease payments, the last in Jan. 2025 — the same month she was removed as PTO treasurer.
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In total, investigators say Cushman stole $9,843.13 during the nearly two-year period.
During an interview with police, Cushman reportedly admitted to fraudulently using the PTO account and debit card.
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