INDIANAPOLIS -- A former Indiana Department of Education employee is facing criminal charges for allegedly stealing $2,130 from the agency.
Tia Joseph, 37, is charged with theft, a Level 6 felony.
Joseph was tasked with collecting cash payments for an Indiana Department of Education training event, as well as paying the caterer at the end of the event.
Jugs Catering of Indianapolis provided a meal for the July 16, 2015 training seminar held at Perry Meridian High School, records show.
The owner of Jugs told the Indiana Inspector General’s office they never received payment for the catering event, according to the probable cause affidavit.
When questioned, Joseph provided an invoice as proof of payment, however the investigation showed the document had been altered.
“When we learned about the facts of this case, the employee was terminated and we referred the matter to the inspector general,” said Daniel Altman, spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education.
Joseph served as an outreach specialist for the Indiana Department of Education from August 6, 2013 until her termination on January 8, 2016.
Prosecutors filed a theft charge against Joseph on August 23.
No attorney is listed for Joseph.
The case is scheduled for a pretrial conference on October 13 at 1 p.m.
