Upperman Fishing Booster Club treasurer indicted

(July 3, 2024) - An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Rosemary Downs, the former treasurer of the Upperman High School Fishing Booster Club, in Baxter, TN. The booster club supports the school’s fishing team and is led by parents and other volunteers.

Investigators determined that Downs misappropriated club funds totaling at least $14,806.82 from November 2022 through March 2024. As treasurer, Downs had direct access to the booster club’s checking account and debit card.

Down’s stole money from the club for her own personal use using the following four schemes:

• She completed and signed 15 checking withdrawal slips at the bank and withdrew cash totaling $11,215.
• She used the club’s debit card to withdraw $798 in cash from ATM machines.
• She wrote eight unauthorized checks payable to her husband totaling $2,393.82 and subsequently endorsed the checks by signing her husband’s name on the back without his knowledge.
• She used the club’s debit card to make two Carnival Cruise transactions totaling $400.

Downs admitted to investigators that she used club funds for personal use. She also made personal deposits to the club totaling $6,025 that she claimed were used to reimburse the club.

Based upon this investigation, in July 2024, the Putnam County Grand Jury indicted Rosemary Downs on one count of theft of property over $10,000 and one count of forgery.

“Booster club thefts continue to be an area of concern across Tennessee,” said Comptroller Mumpower. “As in many other cases, this situation involved one person who was given too much control over all financial duties without others being involved. A basic level of oversight would include requiring two signatures on all checks.”

To view the investigative report, go to tncot.cc/doireports. To view a map depicting Comptroller investigations, go to tncot.cc/mappinginvestigations

If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: tncot.cc/fraud. Follow us on X/Twitter @TNCOT and Instagram @tncot

Media contact: John Dunn, Director of Communications, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov