INDIANA, Pa. – A former treasurer of United School District’s band boosters’ club has been sentenced to six months to two years in jail for taking more than $50,000 from the club.
Lara Lee Brown, 56, must also repay the boosters’ club, Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi said in a release to media.
Manzi said United band members and relatives attended Brown’s sentencing and gave emotional statements about the impact of her crimes.
The United band had to cancel a scheduled trip to Walt Disney World in 2023 because funds set aside for the trip were stolen. But United students then were invited to join the Penns Manor Area band on its own Disney trip in April 2023.
“Instead of enjoying cherished time with their family in Disney, these students, their families and the staff at United experienced treachery and the selfish action of Brown,” said Manzi. “Unfortunately, the United Band Boosters and the students learned that there are just people in this world that do not care who they affect with their actions and only care about themselves.”
Manzi said Brown’s sentence exceeded the “standard range” for her charges, according to Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines. The standard range was three months to one year. Brown also must serve three years of probation, Indiana County Judge Thomas Bianco ordered.
Brown, a former New Florence resident now living in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, was the United band boosters’ treasurer from 2019 to December 2022.
She pleaded guilty in September to theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds.
Law enforcement officials said she bought groceries, clothing, a personal camera and photography equipment without providing receipts for any of the transactions made to club accounts.
Manzi said Brown’s transactions started in small amounts, but grew over time before club members discovered the funds were being deposited into her personal account.
Manzi credited United school officials and the band boosters for working with state police in Indiana for “many hours” to bring Brown to justice.
“During a time of great stress, the members of the Boosters organization and the school were determined to find the truth and stand up for these great students,” he said.