Courtesy Freepik
Flushing Employee Accused of Stealing DOE Fund
A former school staffer at a Flushing public school has been charged with stealing more than $415,000 intended for educational materials and using the funds to benefit her private cheerleading business, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on October 13.
Abi Corbin, 53, of Laurelton, was arraigned on a grand jury indictment charging her with grand larceny and identity theft for allegedly diverting funds from the East-West School of International Studies (P.S. 281Q), where she worked as a community associate.
Prosecutors said Corbin’s duties included processing work orders and managing purchases for the school. Between July 2021 and July 2024, she allegedly used the school principal’s login credentials to authorize fraudulent orders for cheerleading merchandise, which were then used by her private company, Queens Campus Cheer.
District Attorney Katz condemned the alleged theft, calling it “a serious breach of trust.”
“Instead of purchasing necessary educational materials to help students thrive, the defendant is accused of stealing school funds for her own private cheerleading company,” Katz said. “My office will hold accountable anyone who violates that trust and undermines the integrity of our public education system. I thank our partners at the Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District and members of my Public Corruption.”
Bureau for their work on this case.”Anastasia Coleman, special commissioner of investigation for the New York City School District, said Corbin’s alleged actions represented “a brazen abuse of her official position.”
“The hundreds of thousands of dollars she diverted to her private cheerleading business represent vital taxpayer funds intended for the education and well-being of East-West School students,” Coleman said, thanking Department of Education staff for reporting the misconduct.
The investigation began after several boxes containing cheerleading merchandise were delivered to the Flushing school on July 31, 2024. The school does not have a cheerleading team and is not affiliated with Queens Campus Cheer.
Corbin surrendered to authorities earlier on Oct 13. She was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino, who ordered her to return to court on Dec. 2. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District and the Queens District Attorney’s Public Corruption Bureau.
