A trusted volunteer position turned into a major fraud case in Manatee County this week. Nancy Kelly Fetzner, 52, the former treasurer of the North Manatee Soccer Club, was arrested on a warrant and charged with scheme to defraud $50,000 or more. According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Fetzner allegedly used the club’s funds for personal expenses over an eleven-year period, from 2015 through 2026. The total? A staggering $146,686.73 spread across 2,841 separate transactions.
The investigation started when a club volunteer reviewed the books and noticed suspicious charges in June. We’re not talking about a few questionable office supply purchases. Investigators found spending on Disney trips, Las Vegas getaways, jewelry, and sporting events. They say Fetzner routed the money through a sub-account that was supposed to be closed back in July 2023, keeping it active specifically to hide the unauthorized spending.
This case is a wake-up call for every youth sports club, booster club, and nonprofit on the Gulf Coast, from Sarasota down to Venice and everywhere in between. If your organization has volunteers handling money, now is the time to review your financial procedures. Fetzner is charged but not convicted, and she is entitled to her day in court. But for the families who paid registration fees and ran fundraisers, the trust has already been broken. How does your child’s club handle its money? Have you ever looked at the books?
