Two Florida mothers, Amanda Tyson and Tamesha Smith, have been arrested after state investigators accused them of fraudulently obtaining money from a scholarship program designed to help students access educational opportunities. The arrests were announced Thursday by Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, who said the women allegedly used forged documents and false reimbursement requests to steal from the state’s School Choice Scholarship Program.
In a video posted to X, Ingoglia said the program exists to provide students with the best options to support their education. However, he alleged that the two women instead “used it to line their own pockets.”
“Smith defrauded a program of more than $13,000 by allegedly falsifying receipts and bank statements for tuition after withdrawing her son from school,” Ingoglia said. He added that Tyson allegedly forged “a doctor’s note claiming that her son had a disability and then falsified receipts for reimbursements.”
According to information released by the Florida Department of Financial Services, investigators determined that Smith altered about 12 receipts, while Tyson allegedly altered 9 and improperly obtained around $7,000 through the scheme.
“While cheating on a test might get you detention, I can guarantee that cheating on taxpayer-funded programs will get you arrested,” the CFO stated. “These programs aren’t a cash grab. Anyone who is low enough to try to exploit these programs will be put behind bars.”
Public Reaction to the Florida Women’s Arrests
In the comments under the post, many netizens applauded the arrests and praised the state’s efforts to protect its students. “Great work. School choice is a cornerstone of Florida education and fraud within it is unacceptable,” one person commented. Another supporter wrote, “You are the best! We are so fortunate in Florida to have this administration.”
Some people also encouraged officials to broaden their efforts to combat fraud within the scholarship system and beyond. “How about tightening up your program so it is more difficult to commit fraud,” one comment suggested. Someone else chimed in, “Now if we could just prosecute the POLITICIANS who are in on the FRAUD then we’d be making some PROGRESS!!”
As of now, both women have reportedly been charged with grand theft, organized scheme to defraud, uttering a forged instrument, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. State officials said Smith was arrested on May 5, while Tyson was arrested a day earlier on May 4.
