The Front Royal Police Department has arrested a person formerly affiliated with Virginia Revolution Athletics, a Front Royal cheer gym, accusing her of embezzling money from the cheer gym’s business account.
Police Sgt. Jason Winner said that Donna Rogers, 59, of Front Royal, transferred $3,200 from the United Bank account of the cheer gym into her own personal United Bank account on Sept. 18 without having the authorization to do so.
“Donna was affiliated with the business, with Virginia Revolution Athletics, and both bank accounts were with United Bank here in the Town of Front Royal,” Winner said. “But again, she was not authorized to transfer that money from the business account to her personal bank account.”
When reached for comment, Rogers, who was arrested Feb. 15, hung up the phone.
According to an affidavit for a subpoena of bank records, Trisha Hart, the owner of Virginia Revolution Athletics, notified the police department on Oct. 18 that Rogers embezzled $13,700 over five bank transfers between July and September of 2018. Since then, Hart has sued Rogers in five separate civil lawsuits.
In a news release, Hart’s attorney, Phillip Griffin II, stated that Rogers “has been volunteering with” Virginia Revolution Athletics and Hart and Sole Shoe Company, both of which Hart owns, and has been “interfering with client contracts, usurping her local practice area and withholding various equipment, uniforms and shoes.”
But while police have inspected at least five bank transfers from Virginia Revolution Athletics into Rogers’ bank account, Rogers has only been charged with the $3,200 Sept. 18 bank transfer.
Rogers has a prior record of some financial crimes dating back to 1985, according to court records. Court records show she was charged in 1985 in Oklahoma with issuing bogus checks, and in 2007 in West Virginia of involvement in felony fraud schemes.
In addition, Rogers had a record of a 1988 embezzlement charge in Virginia, the court records show.
In a phone interview, Hart, who described Rogers as a former staff member for the cheer gym, said that she was aware of the 1988 case before Rogers began working at the gym.
“We did know of her 1988 charges, but that was 20 years ago,” Hart said. “Who would’ve thought she would do it again?”
Hart stated in an email that Rogers’s alleged embezzlement has had a significant impact on Virginia Revolution Athletics.
“The lost revenue has had significant consequences to our organization,” Hart stated. “It has impacted the local community greatly.”
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