CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – A Coastal Carolina University staff member is accused of embezzling more than $50,000 from the school over a 10 month period.
According to a police report obtained by News13, the Coastal Carolina Police Department met with multiple university officials October 29 to discuss the possible theft of university funds by Administrative Specialist Kristine Ann Connery.
The police captain met with University President David DeCenzo, Executive Vice President Ralph Byington, Chief Financial Officer Stacie Bowie, Dean of the Edwards College of Humanities/Fine Arts Dan Ennis, and University Controller Lori Church. During that meeting, the police report was made regarding the alleged embezzlement.
The report details how Connery, 48, of Myrtle Beach, was given a University Purchase Card for which to buy business items for the Visual Arts Department. A university employee noted while completing an audit of the charges on Connery’s purchase card, that there were a number of transactions that showed Connery purchased personal items for herself. The card was used at several businesses in Conway and Myrtle Beach for Connery’s own use, according to the police report.
Officers document that Connery used the card to buy things for herself between January 2015 and October 2015, racking up $53,858 worth of reportedly fraudulent charges. A spreadsheet of businesses where the card was used and copies of the transactions were obtained by police.
The police report did not document what types of items Connery allegedly purchased for herself over the 10 month span.
Connery turned herself in to police Friday, and was booked into J. Reuben Long Detention Center at 11:27 a.m. on one count of embezzlement of public funds, $5,000 or more. Connery was released on $10,000 bond Saturday afternoon.
