CRAWFORD COUNTY — A Crawford County Board of Education employee was arrested Wednesday and charged with theft of county funds in excess of $60,000.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 37-year-old Denise Lucas was arrested in Crawford County and charged with Theft by Taking..
An additional charge of Theft by Conversion was taken in neighboring Peach County. Both charges are felony violations punishable between two and 20 years in prison.
The Roberta Police Department requested the GBI’s assistance with a possible embezzlement investigation involving Crawford County Board of Education funds.
According to the GBI, the criminal investigation revealed that Lucas, a 15 year employee of the Crawford County Board of Education had unlawfully embezzled the money over the past 2 ½ years.
The GBI investigation is active and ongoing. When the investigation has been completed, it will be turned over to the District Attorney’s Office.