ROMEO, Mich. – It's a scandal which has shaken the city of Romeo.
The local Lions Club is missing thousands of dollars.
Bobbi Jo Craft, a 16-year veteran of the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, is accused of embezzling up to $20,000 during her time as treasurer for the Romeo Lions Club.
"Of course, her being a Det. Sgt., you know, everyone had full trust in her," said Romeo Lions Club President Greg Japenga. "It was kind of hard, you know, because she was actually a friend of everyone's."
Craft reputedly falsified 26 checks belonging to the Lions Club and took the money for herself during a five-month period in 2011. Now, the organization is left trying to pick up the pieces.
"It impacted us and still is impacting us," Japenga said. "We put in processes and procedures ... to not allow that to happen again."
Local 4 went to Craft's home in Richmond, Mich. on Tuesday for comment. She did not answer the door.
"If there was a bill for $1,000 ... she would pull $1,400 out," Japenga said.
Craft's neighbor said he can't believe someone with her authority would or could commit such a crime.
"With her job and everything, I mean, that's the field I was going to go into and she was offering me ride-alongs and all that kind of stuff," said neighbor Tony Apigo.
The Lions Club first realized finances were not adding up when they began planning for the annual Romeo Peach Festival.
Craft resigned from her position at the Sheriff's Office on March 30. She is expected to be arraigned on charges later this week.
She could face up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine or up to three times the amount of embezzled money.