No Halo News · Sourced development
Former CASA of Polk & Haralson employee pleaded guilty to stealing $96,713 from the nonprofit
Former program specialist Jennifer O'Neal pleaded guilty to theft of federal program funds. The Justice Department said she issued fraudulent payments from the nonprofit's accounts between 2018 and 2022, disguising personal expenses as mileage, volunteer support, office supplies and other organizational costs. The admitted loss totaled $96,713. Sentencing was scheduled for December 17, 2026.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The theft affected a comparatively small nonprofit serving abused and neglected children and exposed risks in payroll, reimbursement and bank-account controls. The guilty plea establishes the former employee's criminal responsibility, although sentencing and financial recovery remain pending.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
The guilty plea and admitted loss were reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia based on the criminal case and information presented in court.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not established the amount that will be recovered, the sentence or restitution order, or whether the nonprofit subsequently strengthened its financial controls. The consulted material does not allege wrongdoing by the board or other employees.
Right of reply
Organization response
No response from CASA of Polk & Haralson was located in the consulted material.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Conviction. Current state: Pending. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published September 15, 2026 · Last verified September 17, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.