Woman charged with stealing from charity

A Genesee County woman is accused of stealing money from a charity that was raising money for a cancer patient.

Jodi Coe, 37 of Oakfield was charged with theft and 41 counts of possessing a forged instrument. Court documents reveal that more than $6,000 was withdrawn from Austin’s Army, a fundraiser for a Pembroke teenager struck with a  rare form of cancer.

Coe is accused of acquiring blank checks and forging signatures. She later said that she had a gambling problem and was given a chance to reimburse the account. When that wasn't done in a timely manner, charges were laid.

The Five Star Bank reimbursed $6,600 to the charity, which is raising funds for Austin Heineman.