Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sheri Janelle Brassfield, 39, was arrested today on a warrant for embezzling over $70k from a sorority. She was the treasurer for the local chapter of the sorority and was employed as the Supervisor of the Pre-K ESE Program for Alachua County Public Schools.

According to the sworn complaint, Brassfield stole an estimated $71,967.94 over a five-month period ending in March 2023. Another member of the organization reported to the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) in June 2023 that she had been notified in March that Brassfield had misused the funds of Mu Upsilon Omega, the local chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Members of the local chapter secured the chapter’s banking documents and checkbooks from Brassfield in late March, froze the bank account, and removed Brassfield as a signer on the account. At the time, the bank account had a negative balance of -$1,640.

Two representatives of the local sorority chapter reportedly confronted Brassfield on March 30, and they told a GPD officer that she “did not offer much of an explanation for the unauthorized use of the funds but that she was trying to help someone.” They said Brassfield took responsibility for her actions and promised to “make it right.” The chapter set up a repayment plan and reportedly told Brassfield that if she did not make the payments, the chapter would file criminal charges. Brassfield reportedly made a first payment of $3,600 on March 31.

An audit of the bank account reportedly showed that the reports Brassfield provided to the chapter between November 2022 and March 2023 “did not reflect any of the activity on the account.” For example, the February 2023 report provided by Brassfield showed the bank balance as $69,180.82, but the account was actually at $1,608.91.

The chapter and Brassfield reportedly agreed that Brassfield would pay $9,000 by April 21, then $4,000 a month until June 30, with a final payment of $2,367.94 on July 31. She made the April 21 payment but reportedly has not made any other payments and stopped communicating with the chapter representatives.

Investigators also allege that Brassfield tried to file a false insurance claim via dishonesty bond. Brassfield allegedly changed the email address and password on March 19 so she could access the Surety Bond, then told the company that the chapter’s business account was compromised and the account had gone negative. The insurance company’s response was that a conviction was necessary to file a claim and that the theft would have to have been committed by an officer of the sorority; Brassfield reportedly never responded to that email.

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A detective reviewed the information provided by the chapter and found that the account showed ATM and cash withdrawals from the account in various amounts, every few days, between November 9, 2022, and March 14, 2023. The audit also showed unauthorized purchases from companies such as Jai Jegs, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Parks Ford, and Rack Room Shoes, along with Cash App and Zelle transfers. The detective noted that the Jai Jegs purchases may have been unrelated credit card fraud that was missed because Brassfield was not properly documenting the account activity.

Brassfield also allegedly deposited 15 checks from a business that has been closed since 2011 for the purpose of covering her withdrawals in March. The checks caused a chargeback of $2,250 to the sorority’s account.

The officer reported that he tried to interview Brassfield on August 9, but she canceled the interview and stopped responding. A sworn complaint was filed on August 14, formal charges were filed on September 18, and a warrant for Brassfield’s arrest was issued on September 26.

Alachua County Public Schools placed Brassfield on Administrative Leave in mid-August.

Brassfield has been charged with grand theft over $20,000, scheme to defraud, and uttering a forged instrument. The arrest warrant recommended bail of $10,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.