Former cheer booster club treasurer charged with embezzlement

A woman who had served as treasurer of the Ocean Springs Middle School cheer booster club is accused of taking money from that account for personal use.

Ocean Springs Police Chief Ryan Lemaire said 48-year-old Kasi McDaniel was charged with felony embezzlement. She turned herself in to police on Monday.

She was processed and released on $5,000 bond.

McDaniel is accused of embezzling at least $24,000 from the booster club over about a year’s time — after she was named treasurer for the group.

The investigation began after the booster club’s president reported money missing from the account, which had a balance of $70.

The cheerleaders were supposed to going to a competition, but didn’t have enough money in the account to go, Lemaire said.

Investigators reviewed the financial records and tracked withdrawals from the account and determined that McDaniel was allegedly using ATMs at casinos to withdraw money from the booster club’s account, Lemaire said.

After turning herself in, McDaniel  refused to talk with investigators, Lemaire said. More charges could be added as as the investigation continues.

Conviction on a charge of felony embezzlement is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines or both.