21-076 Detectives Arrest Seminole High School Football Booster for Scheme to Defraud

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Burglary & Pawn Unit

Elise Minzer (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 5/18/1975
Charge: Scheme to Defraud

PINELLAS COUNTY – On Thursday, July 1, 2021, detectives assigned to the Burglary & Pawn Unit arrested 46-year-old Elise Minzer for one count of Scheme to Defraud. At the time of the theft, Minzer was the treasurer for the Seminole High School football booster club.

Detectives were notified by the Seminole High School administration that approximately $15,000 was missing from the booster’s bank account. Several vendors were contacting the school complaining of bounced checks and when an audit was conducted, money was noticed to be missing.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned Minzer, who was the treasurer from 2/28/2019 until 4/30/2021, applied for and was assigned a debit card for the booster account. Debit cards for booster accounts are against school policy. Detectives discovered over 100 unauthorized transactions on the debit card for airline tickets, liquor, car repairs, cable bills, several monthly car payments, and more.

Through various investigative techniques, detectives confirmed Minzer used the booster account debit card to pay for personal items. One purchase for tickets to the Sugar Bowl were confirmed after photos of her at the game were discovered on Facebook.

Detectives say over a period of time Minzer stole approximately $43,000 through unauthorized debit card transactions and wired $21,000 into the account after complaints of bounced checks. The booster club suffered a loss of approximately $22,000.

Investigators met with Minzer and during an interview she admitted to using the debit card for unauthorized personal use.

She was charged with one count of Scheme to Defraud and is currently being held at the Pinellas County Jail.

The investigation continues.