PRINCETON, NJ – A Princeton Public Schools official has been arrested and charged for stealing and selling more than $95,000 worth of school property for her own personal gain.
April Taylor, 58, of Philadelphia, worked as a purchasing agent for the district between 2000 and 2021 and is being accused of forging purchase orders for equipment to be used for her own personal use to be sold, keeping the profits for herself.
She has been charged with official misconduct, impersonation, theft by unlawful taking and financial facilitation of criminal activity.
“Taylor’s criminal acts were uncovered in July 2021 when the Princeton Public Schools business administrator became aware she had purchased a MacBook computer using a forged purchase order and sold it on eBay. After several months of investigation, the Princeton Board of Education commissioned a forensic audit,” the Mercer County Prosecutors’ Office said. “According to the 44-page forensic audit report, Taylor used her position as a purchasing agent to create fraudulent purchase requisitions totaling $95,640.04 under state security or technology funds specifically allocated for the Princeton schools from various vendors. She ordered items and either kept them for her own personal benefit or sold them for a profit. Electronic devices sold by Taylor were recovered in Colorado, South Carolina, Cherry Hill, NJ, and Pittsburgh, PA.”
Investigators also obtained video evidence of Taylor picking up custom interior doors at a building supply store in Hamilton with school purchase orders.
She could face 5 to 10 years in prison if convicted.