Naples, FL - A former Naples Ballet employee is accused of embezzling over $153,000 through a fraudulent credit card scheme.
Nicole Christine Saunders, 54, who served as the organization's office manager, is accused of stealing over $153,000 from the non-profit ballet company between 2019 and 2022.
The Naples Police Department (NPD) initiated their investigation in December 2022 after the ballet company reported significant financial losses.
According to authorities, Saunders allegedly created a fictitious company to process payments for Naples Ballet credit cards.
Over a four-year period, she reportedly conducted 298 fraudulent transactions totaling $153,969.84.
These funds were then directed to a personal PayPal account under her control.
Investigators believe Saunders then used the PayPal account to withdraw cash advances at a casino, amassing a total of $134,643.19.
Saunders was arrested on Monday and booked into Collier County Jail.
She faces charges of scheming to defraud, grand theft exceeding $100,000, and criminal use of personal identification information.