Prahran Community Learning Centre thief Angela Stathopoulos pleads guilty to frauds: Court
A Melbourne fraud who left needy kids “distressed” after she rinsed a charity for $459,000 played Wordle on her phone right before pleading guilty at court.
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A jetsetting mum stole almost half a million dollars from a community charity to splurge on lavish overseas holidays, gratuitous shopping and WWE Live events.
Angela Stathopoulos, 49 pleaded guilty at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday to multiple obtain financial advantage by deception offences.
Stathopoulos, of Murrumbeena, stole $459,317 from the Prahran Community Learning Centre between May 2011 and March 2022.
Stathopoulos stole cash masked as “legitimate expenses” from the not-for-profit charity which, among many things, feeds the homeless and supports needy students.
Stathopoulos, who was principal executive officer at the charity, used her senior position to drain the charity dry during her decade-plus period of offending.
Stathopoulos, who played Wordle on her phone at court in the moments leading up to her guilty plea, spent $155,274 on international trips to the US, Indonesia, and the UK.
The court was told Stathopoulos took 10 separate overseas holidays between August 2011 and May 2019 which were each on the charity’s dime.
Stathopoulos spent $29,040 on flights for a single Melbourne to Los Angeles return via New York and Nashville trip for her and her family in 2015.
She also put her family up in premium accommodation including a seven-night stay at the Westin Hotel Times Square New York City and the Sheraton Music City Hall Nashville.
Stathopoulos also splurged charity cash on another lavish US holiday where she and her family stayed at Disneyland Anaheim, visited LEGOLAND California and stayed at luxury hotels at Beverly Hills, San Diego and the Grand Hyatt San Francisco in 2017.
Stathopoulos also coughed up charity coin to cover airport transfers, hire cars and other travel expenses.
Stathopoulos also spent more than $6000 on entertainment including a Harry Styles concert, a Miley Cyrus performance, a Wizard of Oz production and WWE Live events.
The callous fraudster also blew $15,452 on “personal expenses” including jewellery for her children and school books for her daughter.
Stathopoulos also gleaned $51,081 through false invoices, stole $132,337 directly from the centre’s coffers and misused $141,000 via a charity debit card.
Stathopoulos also splashed down $3939 to purchase dancing lessons, cover dance competition fees and buy a photography package for her daughter.
Stathopoulos, who has a taste for the finer things in life such as vintage designer clothing and accessories, spent $3784 on “luxury accessories, jewellery and goods” and dropped $1236 for a Louis Vuitton bag.
Stathopoulos also burned $32,575 on unauthorised fuel cards despite having a $20,000 per year vehicle allowance as part of her employment contract.
Stathopoulos also illegally transferred $16,316 onto rechargeable “load and go” cards.
Stathopoulos’ offending unravelled after several new board members joined the charity in 2020.
A centre official identified “inherent risks within the organisation regarding financial management”.
The official also “noticed” Stathopoulos was “slow and resistant” in making updates to risk management.
Stathopoulos was stood down while a forensic accounting investigation was conducted.
She initially denied her offending, telling charity board members her spending was “legitimate”.
Stathopoulos was soon referred to police but the court was informed the fallout and repercussions for the centre went beyond financial loss.
The federal Department of Education has since withheld child care funds to the centre and Stonnington Council also deferred any PCLC funding decisions to its lawyers.
According to court documents, the council has advised the centre it “may have to repay” the stolen funds.
The centre’s students were also transferred to other schools which was “disruptive and distressing” to parents and children.
The PCLC – which has since rebranded – is now “viewed as a high-risk grant applicant”, the court was told.
Stathopoulos had openly shared her overseas holidays on Instagram with multiple photos depicting the jetsetting mum and her family at luxe locations including Disneyland, Universal Studios, New York City, Hawaii, San Francisco, Dallas, Los Angeles and Bali.
However, Stathopoulos has since locked down her socials after her devious criminality was exposed by the Herald Sun in July.
Stathopoulos also shared happy snaps of her family lounging by the pool at the luxurious Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort Honolulu and exclusive Vegas hotel The Bellagio.
Stathopoulos boasted about visiting Disneyland and deceased pop star Prince’s ‘Paisley Park’ residence multiple times and how the ‘Universal Studios VIP Experience Tour’ was “amazing”.
The fraud also visited the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Dallas – the old book depository building where Oswald assassinated JFK.
Stathopoulos also posted up photos of her and her family at shows including School of Rock and the ‘VIP Ultimate Prince Experience’.
Stathopoulos also attended the Melbourne Grand Prix and happily posed up for media ops supporting charities including the Feed Melbourne Appeal.
Stathopoulos, who refused to comment when hounded by the media outside court, had her bail extended to front the County Court at a later date.
