Former 911 dispatcher arrested for not returning windfall $1.2 million accidentally deposited into her account (2024)

• A former New Orleans 911 dispatcher was arrested for allegedly misappropriating $1.2 million.
• Kelyn Spadoni, 33, is accused of using cash accidentally deposited into her account to buy a new car and house.
• Financial services corporation Charles Schwab has sued Spadoni for pocketing the overpaid funds.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A clerical error by major financial services company Charles Schwab left one woman $1.2 million richer – but not for long.

Kelyn Spadoni, a former 911 dispatcher in New Orleans, found herself in hot water last week when she was arrested for pocketing the funds which were overpaid to her.

Authorities said that Spadoni, 33, received the $1.2 million in her brokerage account accidentally.

Local media outlet nola.com reported that Spadoni was meant to receive $82.56 from Charles Schwab but the company ended up transferring $1,205,619 into her brokerage account.

In a bid to keep the money, Spadoni closed the account immediately and moved the funds to another account, according to court records. She then used a portion to purchase a new house.

The authorities also accused Spadoni of using another chunk of the cash to buy a new 2021 Hyundai Genesis sport utility car, which ranges in price from $48,000 to $70,000.

When Charles Schwab attempted to get their money back through the bank, its request was rejected since the account was closed and the funds were no longer available.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman Capt. Jason Rivarde told the Associated Press that despite the funds having been credited to Spadoni, it was "not her money."

"She has no legal claim to that money," he said. "Even if it was put in there by mistake. It was an accounting error."

Spadoni has also been fired from her job, which she worked at for four and a half years.

Charles Schwab sued Spadoni last week and has managed to recover around 75% of the $1.2 million.

NBC affiliate WVUE reported that the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office arrested Spadoni last week and booked her on charges of theft valued at over $25,000, bank fraud, and the illegal transmission of monetary funds. She is currently being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center with bail set at $50,000.

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