CREDIT CARD USED TO STEAL $40,000 FROM THE GALVESTON LIFEGUARDING ASSOCIATION

Galveston police investigate $40K missing from Beach Patrol nonprofit

 

By Monique Batson 

 

The Galveston County Daily News

May 31, 2024

 

Kimberly Danesi, president and CEO of the Galveston park board

 

GALVESTON -- A Park Board of Trustees employee who also serves on the board of a nonprofit affiliated with Galveston’s Beach Patrol is on administrative leave without pay pending a police investigation into potential embezzlement, officials said Thursday.

Park board officials put the employee on leave as police investigate claims that tens of thousands of dollars are missing from the nonprofit Galveston Lifeguarding Association, Kimberly Danesi, president and CEO of the park board, said.

Meanwhile, staff members are auditing transactions the employee made using a park board credit card.

“We decided it would be prudent to review our financial records to ensure all monies were properly accounted for,” Danesi said. “As a result, an investigation is underway at the park board to determine if there has been any mismanagement of park board funds. The investigation is ongoing.”

Officials became concerned about missing money earlier this month.

 

Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis  

 

Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis on May 15 told members of the park board he had reason to believe money was missing from an account belonging to the Galveston Lifeguarding Association, officials said.

The nonprofit association raises money through donations and fundraisers to provide scholarships to junior lifeguards, pay for equipment and provide financial assistance to the family members of drowning victims, among other endeavors in support of the Beach Patrol.

After a review of the financial statements, park board officials also found a sum of money was missing from the account.

Although the audit was not complete as of Thursday, about $40,000 had been removed from the nonprofit’s account through ATM withdrawals in Galveston, Lake Charles, Oklahoma and Las Vegas. The cash withdrawals took place from November to February.

Davis became concerned about missing money after the nonprofit’s board voted to transfer money into a project to erect a monument honoring Black lifeguards, Danesi said.

Davis is president of the four-member nonprofit board.

He found there was far less money in the nonprofit’s account than should have been, Danesi said.

Davis on Friday confirmed the case had been turned over to the Galveston Police Department and said he could not provide additional comments.

As of Thursday morning, no criminal charges had been filed in relation to the case.

Any findings of mismanagement of board money also would be reported to police, Danesi said, adding that officials don’t believe there are other problems in the organization’s accounting systems.

“Since joining the park board, one of my top priorities is to ensure we are seen as community leaders who act with the utmost integrity in everything we do,” Danesi said. “It is key that we earn and keep our residents’ and visitors’ trust, and our team works hard every day to do just that.”

Theft of money or property ranging between $30,000 and $150,000 is a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the Texas Penal Code.