A longtime Broward County Catholic school administrator surrendered to authorities Thursday, accused of defrauding the school where she served as principal for two decades.
Lori St. Thomas, 61, of Coral Springs, turned herself in at the Broward County Courthouse and was booked into the Broward Sheriff’s Office Main Jail on a charge of obtaining property over $50,000 by fraud. Her bond was set at $50,000, deputies said.
According to court documents, investigators allege that between 2016 and 2025, St. Thomas arranged unauthorized extra payments to herself through a separate direct deposit account, taking a total of $238,196 from St. Coleman Catholic School in Pompano Beach. The alleged scheme was uncovered earlier this year when school representatives contacted the Broward Sheriff’s Office, triggering a criminal investigation.
St. Thomas served as principal of St. Coleman Catholic School, located at 2250 SE 12th St., from 2004 to 2024, before being transferred to Mary Help of Christians Catholic School in Parkland. She had worked for the Archdiocese of Miami since 1986 until her firing in October 2024, according to an Archdiocese spokesperson.
“As this is an active legal matter, we are unable to further comment at this time,” the Archdiocese said in a statement.
The case remains under investigation as prosecutors move forward with the felony fraud charge.
