A Georgia nonprofit that advocates for abused and neglected children has lost nearly $100,000 after a former employee admitted to stealing program money for personal use.
Jennifer O’Neal of Cedartown pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging theft of federal program funds, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
She worked as a program specialist at Court Appointed Special Advocates of Polk & Haralson and handled payroll and expense reimbursements for staff and volunteers.
From 2018 to 2022, she issued fake payments to herself that looked like mileage or costs for volunteers, staff and children.
“The mileage charges were inflated or were based on travel that did not occur, and the restaurant, grocery, utilities, and clothes reimbursements were made for O’Neal’s personal expenses.”
The stolen total reached $96,713 and covered personal bills, a Netflix subscription, Six Flags visits, softball gear, lingerie and home theater equipment.
Says U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg,
“O’Neal violated her company’s core values, stealing tens of thousands of dollars meant to support the most vulnerable members of our community – abused and neglected children.”
Says FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Mitchell Jackson,
“This was not a one-time, spur-of-the-moment decision. Jennifer O’Neal frequently and repeatedly stole from her company for her own personal gain.”
Her sentencing hearing is set for December 17th, 2026.
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