Chiefland High School cheerleader coach arrested, accused of stealing almost $11,500 in funds

Levy County Sheriff's Office (LCSO)

Bronson, Florida, January 29, 2025

A former cheerleading coach at Chiefland Middle/High School was arrested in Lake Placed, Florida after a year-long investigation, accused of stealing funding money raised by cheerleading fundraisers and cheerleading and bus fees.

In December 2023, administrators from Chiefland Middle/High School reported a suspected theft from fundraising activities hosted by the Chiefland Cheerleading team. The cheerleading team coach, 34 year-old Megan Del Castillo, was responsible for collecting monies and making deposits into the team's accounts after fundraising efforts were complete. The deposits did not match expected earnings.

Levy County Sheriff's Office Detective Rob Bowers met with Levy County School Board administrators and financial officers and began an audit. The initial audit indicated that sales and fees, versus deposits, did not match, and more than $11,000 was estimated to be missing.

In February 2024, Detective Bowers met with Del Castillo, who initially denied any wrongdoing. However, shortly after this meeting, Del Castillo amended the statement she'd given Detective Bowers, admitting she'd kept some money, but nothing close to $11,000. During several meetings, Del Castillo cooperated with Detective Bowers to provide documents to assist his investigation. However, Del Castillo never provided documents that clarified the discrepancies, and in April 2024, Detective Bowers was unable to locate Del Castillo.

Detective Bowers worked closely with the school board's Finance Department and issued subpoenas to several financial institutions to further his investigation. In late November 2024, enough documentation was obtained for a forensic audit to be conducted on the fundraising accounts and also Del Castillo's personal accounts. Detective Bowers, with the assistance of the school board's finance department, determined that $11,493.90 of funds derived from cheering fees, fundraisers and bus fees, known to be delivered to Del Castillo, had not been deposited. These monies are believed to have been used for Del Castillo’s personal gain. Detective Bowers again attempted to locate Del Castillo and learned that she'd moved from the area. Numerous efforts to contact her were unsuccessful.

In January 2025, Detective Bowers secured a warrant for Del Castillo’s arrest for scheme to defraud and located her in Lake Placid, Florida. About January 16, 2025, Ms. Del Castillo was arrested on the Levy County warrant by the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated at the Highlands County Jail, located in Sebring, Florida. Her bond was set at $10,000.

As of January 29, 2025, no appearance had been scheduled for Ms. Del Castillo in Levy County Court.