Queens, NY – The Queens District Attorney’s office announced the charging of Athena Gonzalez, former parent teacher association president of P.S. 166 in Astoria, for grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Gonzalez allegedly diverted more than $41,000 from the school’s PTA funds for personal use.
District Attorney Melinda Katz outlined how Gonzalez, as PTA president, transferred funds intended for the school into her own account, using the money for personal expenses, such as trips to Six Flags Great Adventure and Kalahari Resorts. Katz emphasized that the funds were collected by families at P.S. 166 to benefit the school and its students.
Gonzalez, 33, from Greenvale, was arraigned Thursday evening before Judge Julieta Lozano. She is required to return to court on December 3. If convicted, she faces a potential sentence ranging from 2 1/3 to seven years imprisonment.
The defendant, elected as PTA president in July 2023, reportedly deposited several checks totaling $41,315.87 into her personal account from December 2023 to July 2024. She is also accused of misusing a PTA debit