Eclectic spender
The US Attorney’s Office in Maryland has opened criminal proceedings against the former head of the Maryland Parent Teacher Association for allegedly spending almost $1m of taxpayers’ money on items like voodoo sex spells, luxury vacations, and gambling.
COVID relief money, private grants
The feds have accused LaTonja Carrera, 51, of embezzling over $900,000 from COVID relief money, private grants, and PTA membership funds in pursuit of a lavish jet-set lifestyle.
The Baltimore Sun cited lawyer and ex-federal prosecutor Seth Waxman as revealing the investigation into Carrera.
Waxman worked on a forensic audit of the financially struggling Maryland PTA in 2022. The audit exposed the embezzlement and an “alleged money laundering scheme made up of 11 bank accounts” that Carrera allegedly used to funnel ATM withdrawals.
Unmissable trail
Prosecutors requested the audit files from Waxman, which reveal the suspect left a trail of credit card receipts. These include withdrawals of over $50,000 via over 70 ATM transactions at eight casinos, with $88,000 taken from non-casino ATMs.
Casinos Carrera visited include some in Maryland, plus Philadelphia, North Carolina, and Las Vegas. According to reports, the Las Vegas trip was described as “romantic” and cost Carrera over $13,000.
Carrera’s expenditure also allegedly included $27,000 on psychic readings, spiritual services, and magic spells. The latter category included a “Bring Me Money Spell” and a “Slot Machine Gambling Spell.”
spell to break up Quincy Gant’s marriage
FOX Baltimore reported that Carrera is said to have purchased a spell to break up Quincy Gant’s marriage, which then transpired with Gant becoming Carrera’s boyfriend.
Over to the feds
According to court records, Carrera filed for bankruptcy in 2016 and currently owes over $3m to over 70 creditors.
Waxman stated that given the likelihood the Maryland PTA would never recover the funds Carrera stole, he referred the case to USAO-Maryland and the FBI for criminal prosecution. Waxman hopes that “financial recovery could be achieved through a criminal action.”
