UPDATE: Hilo Woman Charged for Booster Club Money Theft

JoAnn Maldonado. HPD photo.

UPDATE: April 13, 2017

Hawaiʻi Island police have charged a 42-year-old Hilo woman in connection with the theft of money from a public school booster club.

On Monday, April 10, JoAnn Maldonado reported to South Hilo Patrol officers that an unknown suspect entered her Waiākea Uka residence and removed, among other personal belongings, in excess of $10,000 cash which belonged to the Waiākea Intermediate School Ukulele Band Booster Club.

She was arrested on Tuesday,  April 11, after the investigation indicated that Maldonado, who is the club’s vice president, took the money for herself, staged the burglary and made the fictitious report to police about a break-in.

At 1:55 p.m. Thursday afternoon, April 13, detectives with the Criminal Investigation Section charged JoAnn Maldonado with second-degree theft and false reporting to law enforcement authorities.

Maldonado is being held at the Hilo cellblock in lieu of $2,500 bail, pending her initial court appearance in South Hilo District Court scheduled for Monday afternoon, April 17.

PREVIOUS POST: April 13, 2017

Big Island police arrested a 42-year-old Hilo woman on Tuesday, April 11, in connection with the theft of money from a public school booster club fund.

Investigators arrested JoAnn Maldonado just after 2:30 p.m. yesterday for second-degree theft and false reporting to law enforcement authorities.

On Monday, April 10, Maldonado reported to South Hilo Patrol officers that an unknown suspect entered her Waiākea Uka residence and removed, among other personal belongings, in excess of $10,000 cash that belonged to the Waiākea Intermediate School Ukulele Band Booster Club.

Subsequent investigations determined that Maldonado, who is the club’s vice president, took the money for herself, staged the burglary and made the fictitious break-in report to police.

Maldonado is being held at the Hilo cellblock while detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section continue this investigation.

Police ask anyone who may have information about this investigation to call the police department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Tuckloy Aurello at 961-2385 or via email at [email protected].

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.