49-year-old Caroline Bonds of Lakeland, was arrested Monday night and booked into the Polk County Jail for stealing over $50,000 from the Imperial Lions Club, Polk County Sheriff’s deputies said.
Investigators say, a member of the Imperial Lions Club contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to report a possible embezzlement of funds from the club—substantial amounts of money were missing from accounts. After receiving over six years of bank records through subpoena requests, detectives conducted a forensic audit of the Lion’s Club accounts.
The forensic audit showed that the Lions Club opened certificate of deposits (CDs) accounts in the amount of $50,000 in June of 2006. During the same day of the deposit, an unauthorized cash withdrawal was made by Bonds. Then, from June of 2006 until June of 2011, Bonds withdrew and transferred $51,773 from Lions Club accounts to herself and her personal bank account. From June of 2011 until January of 2012, in an attempt to avoid detection, Bond transferred minimal funds back into the Lions Club account to pay bills that were due.
Bonds, who made a full confession to all charges, is being held on $25,000 bond. She also faces several other charges including five counts of money laundering and scheming to defraud. Bonds, who had been treasurer of the club since 2005, quit in early 2o12.
