Ex-school worker accused of embezzling more than $76K

A former financial secretary who collected child care payments for a Putnam City district elementary school is accused of stealing $76,000 over a 7-year period, records show.

Lea Diaz, 54, was charged Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court with seven counts of felony embezzlement.

Diaz worked for Coronado Heights Elementary in Oklahoma City, where she would collect money for after-hours child care and class fund-raising projects, according to a police affidavit.

“Lea would give one receipt for the check payments and a receipt from a separate book for cash payments,” Oklahoma City police Det. Robert S. Varney alleged in the affidavit.

“Lea would deposit the checks properly into the correct bank account. Lea was taking the cash payments and keeping them for her own personal gain.”

Diaz did not return phone calls Thursday seeking comment.

According to the affidavit, Diaz embezzled $76,003.43 over seven years, including $14,017.50 during the 2014-15 school year, $13,042 in 2015-16 and $12,804.46 in 2016-17.

Jail officials said Thursday afternoon that Diaz had not been arrested.

Putnam City Schools spokesman Steve Lindley said Diaz worked as a financial secretary in the district from July 30, 2007, until her resignation on June 8, 2017. Prior to becoming a financial secretary, Diaz was a substitute teacher in the district for 20 months, Lindley said.

“The funds in question are not taxpayer dollars. They are funds raised by the school and by students,” he said. “While those funds are not taxpayer dollars, they are just as meaningful in terms of providing opportunities and resources for students.

“We take this matter seriously and have cooperated with Oklahoma City Police as part of their investigation and will continue to do so in any way that we can.”