SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — The Southaven High School Band Boosters are seeking community donations to recoup a significant amount of money allegedly stolen by the club’s former treasurer, Krystina Thompson, age 47 of Southaven, who now faces legal charges. The organization is focused on raising funds to support its student musicians for the upcoming season.
The Band Boosters said in a statement that the issue came to light in March after a fundraising company notified school officials of a past-due balance. A subsequent audit revealed a substantial shortfall and “a lot of mismanagement and mishandling of the money,” Band Boosters President Traci Filson said. The board promptly removed Thompson from her position.
“It saddens us that a fellow board member who had a student in the band, and someone we considered a friend, would betray everyone’s trust by stealing from the students,” the board said in their statement on the matter.
The stolen funds were meant to cover vital band expenses, including uniforms, instrument rentals, transportation for competitions, and food for students during events. Filson noted that band camp alone costs about $3,500 each year.
The board filed a police report with the Southaven Police Department and Thompson was subsequently arrested and charged with embezzlement on July 21. She was released on bond two days later.
Krystina Thompson (DeSoto County Jail photo)
According to court records, Thompson has a discovery review scheduled for August 22 and must enter a plea by Oct. 2. Her trial is set for Oct. 13.
In response to the incident, the boosters have updated their bylaws with stricter safeguards to prevent a similar situation from happening again. They have also assured donors that all contributions since March 11 have been properly handled.
Filson confirmed the boosters are actively accepting donations to compensate for the loss. “If anybody wants to…they can mail a donation to us too, if they’re more comfortable with that,” she said, in addition to the club’s Cash App.
The Band Boosters’ address to mail donations is P.O. Box 1975, Southaven, MS 38671 and a QR Code for its CashApp site is found on the club’s website.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
