Former Brighton High School Booster Club Officer Charged with Theft
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in Amy Spurlin, the former secretary of the Brighton Blitz Booster Club, being charged with one count of theft over $1,000.
The booster club helps raise money for the Brighton High School football team. Brighton High School is part of Tipton County Schools. Occasionally, Spurlin was allowed to use the Club debit card to make purchases for the football team.
Investigators determined that Spurlin stole at least $1,719.44 from both the high school and the booster club between January 2020 and July 2020. This includes $931 in cash that she misappropriated from a fundraiser as well as $788.44 from unauthorized sales transactions (Amazon and Chick-fil-a) and cash withdrawals from the booster club account.
After being relieved of her duties, Spurlin repaid a total of $550, leaving a total outstanding balance of $1,169.44.
In March 2022, Spurlin admitted to investigators that she used booster club and high school funds for personal use due to family hardship. She also agreed to continue paying back the booster club and the high school.
“Booster club officials are required by state law to safeguard funds and property,” said Comptroller Jason Mumpower. “In this situation, bank statements were not promptly reviewed and reconciled allowing unauthorized purchases to go undetected for several months. Booster club officials must also require and retain invoices or other documentation for all disbursements and cash withdrawals.”
To view the investigative report, go to tncot.cc/doireports. To view a map depicting Comptroller investigations, go to tncot.cc/mappinginvestigations.
If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: tncot.cc/fraud. Follow us on twitter @TNCOT and Instagram @tncot.
