HARRISBURG, PA — A Philadelphia woman has been charged with stealing more than $61,000 from the School District of Philadelphia in what authorities allege was a years-long scheme involving fraudulent therapeutic services for her own children.
Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that 45-year-old Laurel Schullere, owner of a Germantown-based company called Missing Pieces, surrendered to authorities on Wednesday in Philadelphia County. Schullere faces charges of theft by deception, criminal attempt–theft by deception, and provider prohibited acts.
According to investigators, Schullere’s two children required therapeutic care provided through the school district. She allegedly assured the district that Missing Pieces would deliver those services, but failed to disclose that she owned the business. Over the course of nine years, the district issued payments totaling more than $61,000 for services that investigators say were never rendered.
Bank records reviewed by the Office of Attorney General allegedly showed that Schullere received the funds personally and did not forward any money to Missing Pieces. Investigators also determined that the company appeared to have no legitimate operations, listing one address connected to an unrelated church and another tied to an abandoned property.
“This defendant exploited a system designed to help her own children grow and succeed,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Instead of ensuring the children received the care they needed, the defendant misled the district and pocketed taxpayer dollars.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Thomas Ost-Prisco. Authorities emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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