Bucks Woman Charged With Embezzling From Elementary School PTO

HILLTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A 46-year-old Telford woman is accused of embezzling more than $20,000 from a Parent Teacher Organization in the Pennridge School District.

On May 29, the Hilltown Township Police Department arrested Jaqueline Bucco, 46, on multiple charges including dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, forgery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, unlawful use of a computer, and computer trespass.

Bucco was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Armitage and released on $100,000 unsecured bail.

In June 2023, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) of J. M. Grasse Elementary School came to the Hilltown Township Police Department after the PTO bank account was found to be depleted of funds.

Through a lengthy investigation, it was learned that Bucco took over the PTO’s treasurer position in September of 2021. Over two years, police allege that Bucco embezzled more than $20,000 from the PTO. The monies that Bucco stole were funds that were collected from various PTO fundraisers throughout the school year.

Police said Bucco embezzled the money by issuing checks to herself and forging the names of PTO board members on checks that were never approved by the board.

The case was investigated by Detective Louis Bell of the Hilltown Township Police Department and is assigned for prosecution by Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc Furber who is the Chief of Economic Crimes and Insurance Fraud.