Skip to content
NOWCAST KETV NewsWatch 7 First News
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Omaha teacher accused of theft and forgery of more than $33,000 in felony embezzlement case

Omaha teacher accused of theft and forgery of more than $33,000 in felony embezzlement case
MAPPING AND TO AID FIRST RESPONDERS. WE HAVE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT IN A FELONY THEFT INVESTIGATION, AS THIS HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM TEACHER SURRENDERS. COURT RECORDS SHOW THE CASE INVOLVES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MEANT FOR THE NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL PRESS ASSOCIATION. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S AARON HAGGERTY IS LIVE WITH THE STORY YOU SAW HERE. FIRST. AARON. YEAH, THE THE REQUEST FOR A WARRANT ALLEGES ANGELA WOLF, A JOURNALISM TEACHER AT BURKE AND THE FORMER TREASURER OF THE NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL PRESS ASSOCIATION, STOLE ABOUT $76,000 FROM THE NONPROFIT THAT DOCUMENT GIVES US A GLIMPSE OF WHAT SHE’S ACCUSED OF USING IT FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING GROCERIES, UBER HULU AND ANIMAL CLINIC AND OUT-OF-STATE TRIPS. SHE TURNED HERSELF IN THIS MORNING IN THE FELONY INVESTIGATION INTO A BURKE HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM TEACHER. ONE THING STANDS OUT TO DOUGLAS COUNTY, SARGENT JOHN MCFARLAND. JUST THE IMPACT THIS HAD ON A NONPROFIT THAT’S OUT THERE TRYING TO ASSIST YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, UM, PROGRESS IN THEIR JOURNALISM MAJORS OR FUTURES IN MEDIA. A REQUEST FOR A WARRANT FOR ANGELA WOLF’S ARREST SHOWS NSPA BOARD MEMBERS DID REQUEST BANK STATEMENTS, BUT SHE HADN’T MADE EDITS TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND WAS PRESENTING THOSE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR NSPA. FOR EXAMPLE, IN NOVEMBER 2022, NSPA SAID IT WAS PROVIDED WITH A STATEMENT SHOWING A BALANCE OF ABOUT 25 GRAND. BUT WHEN THE GROUP’S DIRECTOR REQUESTED A STATEMENT FROM THE BANK DIRECTLY, THE BALANCE WAS LESS THAN $2,000 AND SHOWED PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS. MCFARLAND SAYS SHE SPENT ABOUT $76,000 TOTAL, BUT THEY CAN’T CHARGE HER FOR MOST OF IT. SO THERE WAS THAT MUCH MORE PRIOR THAT IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT THERE’S STILL ENOUGH CASH INVOLVED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS TO CHARGE HER WITH FELONY THEFT AND FORGERY. WHEN THE NEWS BROKE, THE NONPROFIT’S BOARD TOLD KETV THEY PLANNED TO CONTINUE TO OFFER THE ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY DO TO HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM STUDENTS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. MCFARLAND HAS A WORD OF CAUTION TO ANY ORGANIZATION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES. WHERE NOT ONE PERSON IS IN CHARGE OF ALL FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE NONPROFIT. BASSETT HAVE AN AUDIT FROM ON TIME TO TIME. THE COURT DOCUMENT ALSO SAYS WOLF WOULD MAKE DEPOSITS TO AVOID A NEGATIVE BALANCE FOR THE NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL PRESS
Advertisement
Omaha teacher accused of theft and forgery of more than $33,000 in felony embezzlement case
An Omaha teacher who is under investigation in a felony embezzlement case has turned herself in to the Douglas County Sheriff.Angela Wolfe faces charges of theft by unlawful taking $5,000 or more and second-degree forgery of $5,000 or more.The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said Wolfe, who served as the treasurer for the Nebraska High School Press Association from 2018 to 2024, was reported to be involved in a series of forgeries and thefts from the NHSPA bank account. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Teacher under investigation for embezzling from student press associationAccording to court documents, the NHSPA executive director told investigators that Wolfe stole thousands of dollars during her tenure.Wolfe allegedly "significantly edited" statements to show an inflated account balance and remove references to unauthorized activity, according to court documents. One statement showed an ending balance of $24,840, but the actual balance was $1,777.22.Investigators found $11,805 in forged checks and $21,661.90 in unauthorized debit card transactions, authorities said. "These charges included ATM withdrawals, grocery purchases, restaurant and food delivery charges, veterinarian bills, online shopping, and streaming service subscriptions," the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said in a release.According to court documents, there were multiple cross-account transfers from Wolfe's bank account and the NHSPA account.Wolfe is scheduled to appear in court Friday.KETV NewsWatch 7 Investigates obtained a letter from the Nebraska High School Press Association to its members.It said Wolfe, the now former treasurer, would be charged with embezzlement.The letter reads, "In an emergency meeting in January, the board voted to remove Angela Wolfe as treasurer." It goes on to say, "the board has also adopted multiple safeguards to prevent future malfeasance." Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

An Omaha teacher who is under investigation in a felony embezzlement case has turned herself in to the Douglas County Sheriff.

Angela Wolfe faces charges of theft by unlawful taking $5,000 or more and second-degree forgery of $5,000 or more.

Advertisement

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said Wolfe, who served as the treasurer for the Nebraska High School Press Association from 2018 to 2024, was reported to be involved in a series of forgeries and thefts from the NHSPA bank account.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Teacher under investigation for embezzling from student press association

According to court documents, the NHSPA executive director told investigators that Wolfe stole thousands of dollars during her tenure.

Wolfe allegedly "significantly edited" statements to show an inflated account balance and remove references to unauthorized activity, according to court documents. One statement showed an ending balance of $24,840, but the actual balance was $1,777.22.

Investigators found $11,805 in forged checks and $21,661.90 in unauthorized debit card transactions, authorities said.

"These charges included ATM withdrawals, grocery purchases, restaurant and food delivery charges, veterinarian bills, online shopping, and streaming service subscriptions," the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said in a release.

According to court documents, there were multiple cross-account transfers from Wolfe's bank account and the NHSPA account.

Wolfe is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

KETV NewsWatch 7 Investigates obtained a letter from the Nebraska High School Press Association to its members.

It said Wolfe, the now former treasurer, would be charged with embezzlement.

The letter reads, "In an emergency meeting in January, the board voted to remove Angela Wolfe as treasurer." It goes on to say, "the board has also adopted multiple safeguards to prevent future malfeasance."

Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7