TREASURER OF BENSALEM HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC BOOSTERS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH THEFT OF OVER $25,000

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023 Bensalem Police were contacted by the President and Vice President of the Bensalem Township High School Music Booster Association and reported that they believed that over $9,500 was missing from the Music Booster Association bank account.  They noticed suspicious bank account withdrawals to a Venmo account named @Rebekah-Watson-2.  Police were advised that the Treasurer for the association was Rebekah Watson, 44 years old from Independence Court in Bensalem. Bensalem School District Administrators were advised and offered full cooperation with the police investigation.

A Bensalem Township Police Detective began his investigation into the missing funds.  After obtaining bank records starting in January of 2021, the detective conducted an accounting of all of the deposits and withdrawals from the Music Booster bank account and the Venmo account.

The detective discovered that Rebekah Watson made unauthorized cash withdrawals and money transfers from the Music Booster bank account into the Venmo account in her name.  Money received from booster members was collected through Venmo and placed into the same Venmo account.  It was also discovered that $2,200 raised during a 2022 coin toss fundraiser was missing and never deposited into either account.

Money from the Venmo account was used to make payments for a vacation in Florida, personal taxes, Dunkin Donuts, Door Dash, Boscov’s, Home Depot, Lowes, EZ Pass, gas and phone bills.  The total misappropriation of funds from the Bensalem High School Music Booster bank account was found to be $25,569.73.

On Friday, March 24, 2023, Rebekah Watson turned herself in at the Bensalem Township Police Department on charges of Access Device Fraud, Theft by Unlawful Taking and Theft by Failure to make Required Disposition of Funds Received.  She was arraigned by District Justice Gallagher and was released on unsecured bail in the amount of $75,000.

Bensalem Police would like to thank the Bensalem Township High School Music Booster Association and the Bensalem Township School District for their cooperation during this investigation.