Lake Charles School Employee Accused of Forging Checks and Stealing $23k in Funds, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Investigates

By Evelina Rivers

Published November 17, 2023

Lake Charles, Louisiana - In July 2022, the Financial Crimes detectives of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office received a report from a local school in Lake Charles regarding a theft.

Upon initial investigation, it was revealed that the school had been contacted by vendors claiming they had not been paid for services rendered. Subsequent auditing uncovered that an employee named Anna B. Theriot, aged 37 of Iowa, Louisiana had embezzled more than $23,000 through unauthorized transactions, cash disbursements, and check forgery.

Following an extensive inquiry, a warrant for Theriot's arrest was issued by detectives on November 14. She voluntarily surrendered herself on November 16 and was subsequently taken into custody and charged with theft ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 along with seven counts of forgery.

Judge Tony Fazzio set her bail at $80,000 before she was released.

Detective John Melton from CPSO is leading the investigation into this case.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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