WASHINGTON — A woman must pay back more than $17,000 she took from a fund meant to help elementary school children. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced a settlement resolving a 2024 lawsuit on Friday.
The lawsuit alleged that Robynn Chandler-Mitchell used funds from the Parents Organized for the Power of Powell School (POPPS) — a nonprofit organization created to support Powell Elementary School in Ward 4 — on personal purchases. Chandler-Mitchell spent the money at shoe stores, nail salons and restaurants. She also used funds for Cancun vacation expenses, car payments and groceries.
The Office of the Attorney General’s investigation revealed that, between October 2021, shortly after being elected Treasurer, and September 2022, when she unilaterally closed the POPPS bank account, Chandler-Mitchell transferred POPPS funds to herself, used the organization’s debit card for personal expenses, and frequently withdrew cash from the POPPS bank account. During that time, Chandler-Mitchell repeatedly informed the POPPS Board that its finances were sound, even as her personal spending depleted the bank account until it was overdrawn…