Sept. 27. 2024 -- 4am: By: Rhonda Forbes Smith -- The Blake Moia Show Crime Reporter.

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$50,000 Allegedly Stolen

A Palm Bay Charter School Principal and his wife is in big trouble with the authorities today after the 2 were caught misappropriating enrollment fees and using the money to pay off personal expenses and loans.

According to investigators, the Lugo's, identified as Ryan Louis Lugo and Nancy Enid Lugo, overcharged for services that the state was already funding and the pair pocketed the difference. The school, which enrolled about 116 students who relied on state scholarships, charged parents $150 registration fees per student even though it received state funds to cover those costs.

The school also charged for transportation and uniforms that should have been free. However, according to witnesses and sworn testimony in the 24-page investigative report, transportation was not even offered.

The alleged theft occurred for years, between January 2021 and April 2024. All of it totaling out to be approximately $49,686.94.

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The Wife Signs off on Several Purchases

The case initiated after a whistleblower from inside the private school had contacted the Brevard County Sheriff's Office to file a complaint about the school. The report says an internal audit was completed by a Pastor at the El Senai Christian Academy School in Palm Bay and it was discovered that there were several charges on the school's credit card and several checks written for person items.

Authorities say Nancy Lugo signed a check for a night's stay at a luxury hotel for an unapproved trip.

Several charges to the school's credit card to AT&T for over $1,000 were made for internet service to their personal home address.

$2,600 was illegally used by Nancy to pay back personal loans.

In addition, thousands were spent for concealed carry training classes, which is not an authorized expenditure, authorities say.

135 Fraudulent Transactions

According to investigators, a total of 14 witnesses were interviewed, and a total of 135 illegal transactions totaling over $49,000 was discovered.

Authorities say the couple raised registration fees to $1,000 per student, which exceeds the limit of what a private charter can charge as the school is also funded by taxpayers.

Upon registration, students were made to buy the uniforms.

Ryan Lugo publicly fired the Pastor, the one who conducted the audit, once it was revealed that the Lugo's was taking money.

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Booked into Jail on $10,000 Bond

The pair were both charged with grand theft, organized fraud and illegal use of a 2-way communications device. All of which are felonies.

Bond was set at $10,000.

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Gallery

The Blake Moia Show obtained the 24-page investigative report completed by state investigators with the Department of Finacial Services, Office of Fiscal Integrity and Division of Investigative and Forensic Services.