Cops: ‘Y’ worker defrauded child care program

VENICE — Following an investigation, the Venice Area Young Professional’s immediate past chair was arrested on a felony fraud charge for allegedly stealing money.

According to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Samantha Banting stole about $17,500 from a YMCA Childcare program that she directed.

Banting was arrested Nov. 15.

Banting was hired as the child care director in September 2013. Authorities stated she stole the money over two years.

Her responsibilities includes taking cash and check payments received from parents, maintaining accounting programs and maintaining payment receipt books.

She also reconciled the YMCA client accounts.

According to a Sheriff’s Office arrest report, the theft was initially discovered in May 2016, when a client received a letter indicating their past due account.

The client produced physical receipts showing the account was paid and up to date.

The YMCA determined the letter sent to the client was generated by Banting, which was not normal company procedure.

An internal audit found numerous discrepancies between the computer accounting system and the receipt books for childcare cash payments. Officials say Banting, as director of the program, was the only one authorized to enter and edit the computer program transactions.

They determined an estimated $17,535 was unaccounted for between June 2014 to July 2016.

YMCA officials confronted Banting and requested she produce all receipt books for the operations, but Banting produced only some of them. The rest remain missing.

In a follow-up interview, Banting indicated she wanted to cease the interview because she knew she was going to be fired.

Sheriff’s Office detectives confirmed less cash was entered into the accounting system when compared to physical receipts for the same transactions. They concluded Banting edited the transactions by applying discounts, canceling payments or canceling services.

Banting never reported any discrepancies or missing money.

Banting, of Venice, was charged with scheming to defraud under $20,000.

She posted bond following her arrest.