Angela Stathopoulos jailed for stealing more than $500k from PCLC charity

A jetsetting fraudster who stole more than half a million dollars from a vulnerable youth charity she ran has been jailed, swapping Disneyland for the inside of a prison cell.

Former PCLC boss Angela Stathopoulos has been jailed for defrauding the charity over a 10-year period.

A jetsetting con woman who stole more than half a million dollars meant for vulnerable kids and spent it on luxurious holidays, concerts and dance lessons has been jailed.

Angela Stathopoulos, 49, was sentenced to six months prison after she pleaded guilty to 10 obtaining financial advantage by deception offences.

Stathopoulos, of Murrumbeena, stole $531,111.52 from the Prahran Community Learning Centre (PCLC), a not-for-profit charity, between May 2011 and March 2022.

She spent the money on a variety of expenses to fund her lavish lifestyle, from dance lessons for her daughter to trips to Disneyland, designer clothes and Harry Styles concerts.

Stathopoulos, who became boss of the charity in 2010, also spent more than $30,000 on petrol, and more than $128,000 on personal expenses such as clothing, beauty and Netflix.

She had full financial control of the charity’s expenses which included managing grants.

Angela Stathopoulos stole more than $500,000 from the charity she ran.

Stathopoulos, who spent most of the hearing sobbing, was stood down by the charity in March 2022 after a lengthy investigation was launched by the new chair, before she was later charged by police when forensic accountants went through PCLC’s finances.

Stathopoulos was stood down while a forensic accounting investigation by Protiviti was conducted.

She initially denied her offending, telling charity board members her spending was “legitimate”.

Stathopoulos’ “need for acquiring stuff” was what filled her cash splurging, according to psychologist Carla Lechner’s report.

Ms Lechner’s report also wrote that Stathopoulos said “some people turn to drugs and alcohol, this my problem (spending money)”.

Judge Gavan Meredith said Stathopoulos’ fraud was a “breach of significant trust” and it was “committed against an institution that could ill-afford the losses” she caused.

“A persistent, calculated offending revealing an egregious breach of trust,” Judge Meredith said.

Angela Stathopoulos will swap Disneyland for the big house after being sentenced by Judge Gavan Meredith.

Judge Meredith said he gave Stathopoulos credit for paying all the money back to PCLC, and took into account her early plea of guilty.

His Honour said she was “genuinely remorseful” and “embarrassed” as a result of her offending and that her prospects of rehabilitation were reasonable.

Judge Meredith told the court Stathopoulos’ began drinking as early as 12 years old, and that Stathopoulos suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts.

The court heard Stathopoulos had prior convictions for theft in 2001.

PCLC had to be renamed Prahran Place after she was caught because of the damage it had done to their reputation.

Stathopoulos was sentenced to a total of three years in prison, with two and a half years suspended.

She has served seven days behind bars.