Former south KC PTA treasurer pleads guilty to bank, wire fraud: ‘Was not just money’
A former treasurer for a south Kansas City elementary school’s parent teacher association pleaded guilty to nine counts of bank and wire fraud in federal court Thursday after stealing thousands from the organization, according to a news release.
Holly Mikkelsen, who lived in Lee’s Summit at the time, was serving as treasurer for the Summit Pointe Elementary School PTA between Aug. 17, 2020, and July 23, 2025, during which time she stole over $100,000 from the organization’s checking accounts, Candice Jamioles, a public affairs specialist for U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price, said in a news release.
Mikkelsen, who used the withdrawn money “for her personal financial benefit,” wrote and signed checks made out to herself, withdrew cash from ATMs and deposited money from the PTA’s accounts directly into her own, Jamioles said.
According to a federal information document, Mikkelsen used the funds at casinos, and for “gaming, travel and tuition for trading strategy training.”
The news release said Mikkelsen is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in prison without parole. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 24, 2026.
The PTA’s president, Lorenzo Harrison, said in a news release Thursday that the PTA is an “advocacy organization” that works for students, teachers and the community.
“What was stolen here was not just money. It was trust. It was sacrifice. It was generosity from hardworking families who gave because they believed in something bigger than themselves,” Harrison said.
The president said the PTA expects the “full weight of the law to deliver the accountability this community deserves.”
Following the incident, the organization is conducting a full review of the PTA’s protocols, instating dual authorization requirements for transactions, implementing board financial training and creating consistent district-wide audit practices, the news release said.
“The actions of one individual do not reflect the integrity and dedication of the hundreds of volunteers who give their time every day for our children,” Harrison said.
