Money Meant For Abuse Victims Stolen From Springfield YWCA By 3 Employees: Police

Three employees of the YWCA in Springfield are accused of stealing more than $28,000 in grant money meant to help victims of physical and sexual assault and human trafficking. They planned to use it for personal expenses, police said.

Springfield Police
Photo Credit: *Springfield Police Department on Facebook*

Josh Lanier

06/02/2023 4:50 p.m.

Aisha Pizarro, who was the administrator of the funds, and her two employees, Sharifa Forbes and Patricia Medina, are accused of taking the money, Springfield police said.

Detectives began investigating the theft on April 25 after the Department of Public Health, which controlled the funds, noticed some irregularities in the accounting and asked for a meeting with YWCA staff. Pizarro did not attend that meeting despite her prominent role in the money's management, police said.

Investigators found surveillance videos from the night before that showed Pizarro leaving the YWCA building with a large box, police said. She requested to take a sabbatical the next day.

Police believe the three women spent $28.797 to pay their bills.

Forbes was arrested on May 22 after being involved in a car crash, police said. Pizarro and Medina turned themselves in to police soon after, authorities said.

Police are still investigating the case.

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