A two-year investigation into missing funds at the Ladies of the Dukes Club on Croton Avenue has led to the arrest of Debra Lynn Cameron, a former member who allegedly had control of and access to the club’s accounts.
Cameron, 70, of Roosevelt Street, was arrested by the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office in connection with the theft of around $50,000 from the club. She was charged with multiple felonies on Tuesday and is free on bond while awaiting her preliminary hearing.
The criminal complaint details that, while Cameron had control over the club’s checks and credit cards, she allegedly transferred money from the club’s account into her personal account. One of the transactions was for the purchase of a swimming pool liner, though the club does not own a swimming pool.
More specifically, an investigator found that on June 7, 2023, Cameron withdrew funds from the Ladies of the Dukes bank account and deposited a $50,000 certificate of deposit into her personal account at another bank, without authorization from the club or any other members. Statements from club members corroborated this finding.
In addition to this, the investigation revealed that on December 2, 2022, Cameron attempted to cash a Ladies of the Dukes check for $10,800 intended for the purchase of an in-ground pool liner. She falsely presented another member’s signature as a valid second signature on the check.
The investigation also uncovered multiple unauthorized purchases made by Cameron using the club’s credit card for her own personal benefit. Documentation obtained from credit card statements and vendor receipts showed the extent of the financial harm caused to the organization.
Cameron faces several charges, including theft, forgery, theft by deception, and access device fraud. She was arraigned by District Judge Melissa Amodie, who set her bond at $25,000 unsecured, meaning she does not need to pay bail upfront but could be held responsible for the full bond if she fails to appear for court proceedings.
The Ladies of the Dukes is a well-known all-female Italian club established in 1960, famous for its homemade Italian food, including Sunday sit-down meals and takeout sales.
As with all criminal cases, Cameron is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.