On Feb. 8, Bensalem Police were contacted by the president and vice president of the Bensalem High School Music Booster Association, who reported that they believed over $9,500 was missing from the Music Booster bank account. They noticed suspicious bank account withdrawals to a Venmo account named @Rebekah-Watson-2.
Police were advised that the treasurer for the association was Rebekah Watson, 44, from Independence Court, Bensalem. Bensalem Township School District administrators were advised and offered full cooperation with the police investigation.
A Bensalem Township Police Detective began his investigation into the missing funds. After obtaining bank records starting in January 2021, the detective conducted an accounting of all of the deposits and withdrawals made from the Music Booster bank account and the Venmo account. The detective discovered that Watson made unauthorized cash withdrawals and money transfers from the Music Booster bank account into the Venmo account in her name. Money received from booster members was collected through Venmo and placed into the same Venmo account.
It was also discovered that $2,200 raised during a 2022 coin toss fundraiser was missing and never deposited into either account. Money from the Venmo account was used to make payments for a vacation in Florida, personal taxes, Dunkin, DoorDash, Boscov’s, Home Depot, Lowes, EZ Pass, gas and phone bills. The total misappropriation of funds from the Music Booster bank account was found to be $25,569.73.
On March 24, Watson turned herself in at the Bensalem Township Police Department on charges of Access Device Fraud, Theft by Unlawful Taking and Theft by Failure to make Required Disposition of Funds Received. She was arraigned by District Justice Michael Gallagher and was released on unsecured bail in the amount of $75,000.
