Cranston School Committee Member Stole PTO Money: RI State Police

CRANSTON, RI — Cranston School Committee member Tera Norberg was arrested after Rhode Island State Police said she stole money from the parent-teacher organization (PTO) she was in charge of.

Norberg was charged with unlawful appropriation, embezzlement, filing a false document, and obstructing an office in the execution of duty, state police said Wednesday.

The investigation began in July when state police learned of a potential embezzlement case involving the Stone Hill Elementary School PTO's bank account. The Cranston School Department Business Office launched an internal inquiry into the missing funds.

During the investigation, Norberg, the PTO president, was asked to provide bank statements for the organization. State police said Norberg initially reported discovering the theft from the account and claimed to have identified the person responsible. She even went so far as to provide a notarized document to the business office, which said the culprit would fully reimburse the stolen money, state police said.

But after further investigation, Norberg admitted to authorities she fabricated the guilty party's identity and was the one who stole the money, state police said.

State police said she stole the money by using a debit card associated with the PTO.

Norberg was arraigned at the state police headquarters by Justice of the Peace Steven Crawford. She was released on $10,000 personal recognizance. Norberg is scheduled to appear at Sixth District Court in Providence for a pre-arraignment conference on Oct. 11.

The Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit urges anyone with additional information about this incident to call them at 401-764-5179.

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