Chandler, Arizona Police: Woman embezzled $20K from school

Chandler police arrested the finance manager of a charter school Tuesday, alleging she embezzled more than $20,000.

Laurie D. Bassett, 51, was booked on suspicion of 25 counts of forgery and one count each of fraud and theft, according to court records.
Detective David Ramer, Chandler police spokesman, said investigators are looking for Bassett's husband, James Bassett, to arrest him also.
Ramer said that for the last 13 months, Laurie Bassett, Dobson Academy's finance manager, would write false invoices for janitorial supplies and some school supplies and then write checks in her and her husband's names for the invoice amount.
When the check returned to the school, she would then cover their names with correction fluid and replace them with names of school vendors. She would then make a photocopy, which showed no trace of the alteration, and use it as the official record while no one would ever see the original check, Ramer said.
The school conducted an audit and discovered the scheme, which was carried out over 13 months.
"The audit showed a 300 percent increase in janitorial supplies," Ramer said.
The school at 2207 N. Dobson Road in Chandler has 555 kindergarten through eighth-grade students.
It received $3.3 million from the state this school year.
School officials did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
Ramer said police served a search warrant at Bassett's Ahwatukee Foothills home Tuesday and arrested her.
According to court records, Bassett admitted to making false invoices and checks and forging signatures.
Her husband wasn't there when their home was raided.
He is described as 50 years old, white, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds with brown eyes and blond hair.
He works in construction and drives a 1985 Chevrolet van with a license plate