Two Women Charged With Defrauding Florida School Scholarship Program

Two women face felony charges after investigators say they submitted forged documents and altered receipts to steal more than $20,000 from Florida's Step Up for Students scholarship program, state officials announced this week.

Treasure Coast families who rely on the scholarship program — which covers tuition, therapy, and other educational services for tens of thousands of Florida children — could face tighter reimbursement scrutiny as the state signals a crackdown on program fraud.

Tamesha Smith fraudulently obtained more than $13,000 by altering a dozen receipts tied to tuition and training reimbursements after her son had already withdrawn from school, investigators with the Department of Financial Services Criminal Investigations Division say. Amanda Tyson improperly received about $7,600 by altering reimbursement receipts and forging a doctor's note used to qualify her child for the program, authorities say.

Both women face charges of grand theft, organized scheme to defraud, uttering a forged instrument, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device — all third-degree felonies carrying penalties of up to five years in prison each.

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced the arrests and made clear his office views scholarship fraud as an offense against more than the state treasury.

"Those who try to manipulate scholarship programs aren't only breaking the law, they are stealing opportunities from families and hardworking students wanting to strengthen their future," Ingoglia said. "Florida scholarships are not a personal bank account; my office will continue to protect the taxpayers and ensure that greedy criminals are put behind bars."

Step Up for Students is administered through the Department of Education and directs public dollars to families who use the funds for private school tuition, special-needs therapy, and approved educational materials. The program has expanded significantly in recent years as Florida's school choice framework has grown.

The arrests underscore a recurring vulnerability in voucher-style programs: reimbursement systems that process high volumes of family-submitted documents are difficult to audit in real time, creating windows for manipulation before investigators catch up.

It is unclear whether either woman has ties to the Treasure Coast. Residents with questions about Step Up eligibility or proper documentation requirements can contact the Department of Education or Step Up for Students directly.

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