Girl Scout leader steals money for blackjack habit

Joleen Hopkins a Girl Scout troop leader has been put on probation after stealing over $8,000 from her troop in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. Hopkins used the money she stole to fund her blackjack habit. The troop leader spend the money at a local casino playing blackjack, paid some bills and then bought sports equipment for her daughters.

Hopkins also used the money to pay for gas, food, auto parts and much more. The money was generated from proceeds made from the girl scouts selling cookies around their neighborhoods. Hopkins took the money by writing bad checks from the troop’s bank account.

Hopkins has been charged with six counts of theft three of which are felony charges. She now faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine if she is convicted. "Certainly, this is one of those cases that is just appalling that a volunteer would steal money from their girls," said Barbara Boelk, a spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of Minnesota. “Certainly, this is one of those cases that is just appalling that a volunteer would steal money from their girls, “said Barbara Boelk, a spokeswoman for Girl scouts of Minnesota.

2010-03-04