Deltona, Florida — The former treasurer of a local Cub Scout pack is facing felony charges after a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office investigation revealed she stole close to $9,500 of the pack’s money to pay her own bills.
Eloisa “Ellie” C. Hilton, 37, a language arts teacher at University High School in Deltona, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with Organized Scheme to Defraud, Grand Theft and Illegal Use of a Credit Card.
Deltona Cub Scout Pack 340 knew of some of Hilton’s thefts before her arrest.
In March, at a pack committee meeting, Hilton admitted to other parents that she had stole approximately $2,500 of the pack’s funds. At the time, the committee arranged for Hilton to repay the money without law enforcement getting involved.
Sheriff’s investigators learned of the thefts through an anonymous tip a couple of weeks later.
By late March, the committee decided to pursue charges against Hilton.
A review of the pack’s checking account revealed $2,770.43 in unauthorized transactions – including electric, cable and phone bill payments, grocery bills, gas station charges, and several nights at a hotel in Tampa.
According to reports, an additional $1,000.66 in funds raised by selling popcorn and discount cards was never deposited into the bank.
As investigators compared the pack’s financial records, they discovered more missing cash that should have been deposited into the bank. At one point, Hilton was given $27,493.09 in cash to deposit, but only $21,808.51 made it to the bank – a difference of $5,684.58.
Those thefts totaled $9,455.67.
Hilton was arrested at her home and transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail.
She was later released on $2,500 bond.
Volusia County school officials said Hilton has not been terminated, however, she has been removed from the classroom pending the outcome of an investigation.