Federal officials say that a Columbus, Georgia public school teacher who was addicted to gambling stole $240,000 from various nonprofits as well as from one of her former employers.
Trenna Denise Trice, 59, pleaded guilty to wire fraud Monday. This according to a press release that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia published this week.
A listed telephone number for Trice was disconnected when The Georgia Star News tried to reach her Thursday.
Federal officials started investigating Trice’s financial affairs two years ago, following reports of significant casino losses sourced through an unidentified income stream, the press release said.
“The investigation into possible sources of income for her casino activity revealed that her sole source of income was working as a teacher for the Muscogee County School District (MCSD),” according to the press release.
“Prior to teaching, she worked for a dental office, and she worked as a volunteer campaign coordinator for the Columbus branch of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) from 2005 – 2017.”
Staff at UNCF and the Muscogee County School District did not return requests for comment Thursday.
Trice’s LinkedIn identified her as someone who teaches business and computers. The U.S. Attorney’s press release said Trice organized the annual Columbus Mayor’s Masked Ball, which was the UNCF’s primary fundraising activity. There, she collected cash, credit card contributions, and check payments for donations and ticket sales, the press release said.
“During the course of the investigation, agents determined that while the larger contribution checks from bigger sponsorship companies had made their way to UNCF, Trice diverted numerous smaller contributions for her own personal use. UNCF ended their relationship with Trice in 2017, following questions regarding financial irregularities that were indicative of embezzlement,” the press release said.
“It was later discovered that Trice had also been terminated by the dental office following similar allegations. Trice was also collecting donations for a nonprofit corporation known as SAMARC run by two former NBA basketball players who conduct an annual basketball camp for underprivileged kids in Columbus.”
Federal agents said they identified 109 checks and 265 credit card transactions that Trice deposited into her accounts without permission.
“Trice told investigators she had a crippling gambling addiction for the last decade and the money was stolen to fuel her gambling addiction and compensate for her gambling losses,” the press release said.
Trice faces a maximum 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 29, 2022, the press release said.
Trice, on her LinkedIn, spoke of her professional objectives.
“As an educator I am blessed to influence, shape, mold and IMPACT the lives of young people who represent 100 percent of our future,” Trice said.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Trenna Denise Trice” by Muscogee County Jail.
