The Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia in Columbia County have been rocked by a disturbing case of theft by conversion, leaving the organization reeling and seeking justice.
According to a police report filed last week, the Girl Scouts’ local branch at 4687 Columbia Road in Martinez fell victim to financial malfeasance and missing funds from the sale of Girl Scout cookies.
Shonda Wilson, the individual responsible for managing the organization’s account, revealed alarming details of the breach in an interview with authorities. Wilson disclosed that a woman had been entrusted with overseeing the account in 2023. However, suspicions arose in March of that year when irregularities surfaced, including unprocessed deposits and unaccounted funds.
Wilson alleged that payments for cookies, totaling a significant sum, were made to the suspect but never found their way into the organization’s coffers. The situation escalated over months, with Wilson continually confronting the woman about the discrepancies. Despite partial restitution in December 2023, Wilson asserts that the financial irregularities persist, with potential losses estimated at $5,000 or more.
No charges have been filed as the investigation continues, with Wilson promising to provide more financial documents soon to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, according to sheriff’s Maj. Steve Morris. The suspect allegedly claimed that she simply forgot to make the deposits and showed up at Girl Scout offices with a cashier’s check, which didn’t cover the entire amount of missing funds, Maj. Morris said.
The Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, renowned for its dedication to empowering young girls and fostering leadership skills, now finds itself grappling with the fallout of this financial scandal.
