Watertown school employee admits to stealing money from school system

By Megan McKee, Town Correspondent

A Watertown school employee pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing money from the local school system through a series of illegal actions while she was a secretary and comptroller of the Watertown Middle School from 2001 to 2010.

Federal prosecutors say Sharon Cardarelli, 51, took a total of some $84,000 from kids' fundraisers and by falsifying employee time sheets to deposit compensation checks into her own bank account. She admitted in U.S. District Court in Boston to tax fraud for not reporting the money she stole.

Cardarelli now faces up to 10 years in prison on charges of federal program fraud and falsifying federal tax returns.

“The sad thing is that we put our trust in a long-time employee and long-time resident from a well-known family in Watertown to do the right things for the faculty and students of the middle school,” said Watertown School Committee Chairman Tony Paolillo.

According to US Attorney Carmen Ortiz's office, Carderelli in 2004 started falsifying time sheets for two relatives who worked as substitute teachers intermittently. She then took the checks made out to her relatives and deposited them into her own bank account, according to prosecutors.

A spokeswoman for the Ortiz's office said Cardarelli stole about $53,000 from the town and $31,000 from fundraisers.

Cardarelli was also responsible for forwarding student fundraiser money to the school's business office. Before she sent it along, she skimmed money and “made numerous corresponding cash deposits into her personal bank account,” according to a press release from Ortiz's office.

The Aug. 2010 indictment of Cardarelli said the fundraisers included cookie dough sales and school dances.

“Ms. Cardarelli’s actions are not only an abuse of public trust, it is reprehensible that she would steal from the town and its students during a time when schools districts are suffering from major budget cutbacks and families are called upon to raise money for a host of student activities,” said Ortiz.

Cardarelli, who could not be reached for comment, has been on unpaid leave.

Paolillo said the School Department is waiting for more details from attorneys to find out how they can proceed.

“The lesson learned once again when it comes to money no one can be trusted,” said Paolillo. “No one is a winner in this case.”

Her sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Megan McKee can be reached at megan.mckee@gmail.com.