January 16, 2025
In December of 2023 administrators from the Chiefland Middle/High School reported suspected theft from fund raising activities hosted by the Chiefland Cheerleading team. The coach, Megan Del Castillo (8/7/90) was responsible for collecting and making deposits into the team accounts after fund raising efforts were complete. The deposits did not match expected earnings.
Detective Rob Bowers met with administrators and financial officers with the Levy County School Board and began an audit. Initial inquiries surmised the sales and fees versus deposits did not match and estimated over $11,000 was missing.
In February 2024 Detective Bowers met with Del Castillo who initially denied any wrongdoing. Shortly after this meeting Del Castillo amended her statement admitting she kept some monies, but nothing close to $11,000. Del Castillo cooperated with Detective Bowers, participated in several meetings and offered documentation to assist the investigation. Del Castillo never produced documents to clarify these discrepancies and in April of 2024 could not be located by Detective Bowers for further comment.
Detective Bowers worked closely with the School Board Finance Department and issued subpoenas to several financial institutions as he furthered his investigation. In late November of 2024 the documentation was obtained to conduct a forensic audit of the fundraising accounts and those accounts owned by Del Castillo. Detective Bowers with the assistance of the finance department was able to determine $11,493.90 of funds derived from cheer fees, fundraisers and bus fees known to be delivered to Del Castillo were not deposited. These monies are believed to be used for Del Castillo’s personal gain. He attempted to locate Del Castillo and discovered she had moved from the area. Numerous efforts to contact her failed.
In January of 2025 Detective Bowers secured a warrant for Del Castillo’s arrest for scheme to defraud. Del Castillo was located in Lake Placid, Florida and arrested by Highlands County Sheriff’s Office on this warrant. Her bond was set at $10,000 and no appearance in Levy County Courts has been scheduled as of this release.
