QUEENS, N.Y. — Athena Gonzalez, a former president of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at P.S. 166 in Astoria, has been charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property after allegedly embezzling over $41,000 from the school’s PTA funds, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Tuesday.
According to DA Katz, Gonzalez, 33, who was elected PTA president in July 2023, used her position to divert funds intended for school activities and resources into her personal bank account. The money was allegedly spent on vacations, shopping, gambling, and even medical expenses for her pet.
“This defendant, as PTA president at P.S. 166, was supposed to be a guardian of the association’s funds but, as alleged, instead put the money into her own account and paid for personal trips to Six Flags Great Adventure and Kalahari Resorts, among other expenses,” DA Katz said in a statement. “This money was raised by P.S. 166 families to help the school and its students. My office will work to restore those funds and hold this defendant accountable for her breach of trust.”
The indictment states that from December 2023 through July 2024, Gonzalez deposited seven checks totaling $41,315.87 from the PTA’s bank account at Connect One Bank into her own Discover account. These checks, allegedly ranging from $1,564 to $10,000, were drawn from funds meant for school events and student support.
Following these deposits, Gonzalez is accused of spending PTA money on personal purchases, including trips to Six Flags and Kalahari Resorts, as well as expenses at smoke shops, nail salons, Starbucks, Sephora, Total Wine, Petco, and on gambling apps. She also allegedly used the PTA’s debit card to pay $1,236 for pet medical care at a veterinary clinic in Nassau County, and reportedly took an additional $1,120 in cash intended for deposit into the PTA’s account.
Gonzalez was arraigned on charges of third-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property before Judge Julieta Lozano on Monday night. She was released on her own recognizance and ordered to return to court on December 3. If convicted, Gonzalez could face a prison sentence of up to 2 1/3 to seven years.
The District Attorney’s office has pledged to seek restitution of the stolen funds and aims to ensure that those responsible for misappropriating community-raised money are held accountable.
