Cedar Lake Woman Charged After Investigators Note Spending Discrepancies In Cub Scouts Account
Cedar Lake- A 35-year-old Cedar Lake woman is accused of using a Cub Scouts debit card for personal expenses over several months, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Lake County.
On August 6, 2025, a complainant reported that a Cub Scouts purchase had been declined due to insufficient funds even though there should have been “plenty of money” in the account. She told police she reviewed several months of bank statements and found numerous purchases she did not make. She reported the purchases were made with a debit card ending in 1283, which she identified as belonging to Amber Pfiel.
The complainant said the only two individuals with troop debit cards were herself and Pfiel. She stated that receipts were required for all purchases and pointed out unusual transactions at businesses such as Target, La Gaviaota, and Strack & Van Til, which she said the troop did not normally use. She initially estimated the loss at $4,755, though police noted they did not yet confirm that number.
According to the affidavit, before filing the report, the complainant and the Cub Master met with Pfiel to address the discrepancies. The complainant stated Pfiel denied any improper purchases and said her debit card had gone missing. She also said Pfiel was told to provide detailed receipts and that the account was later frozen to stop any additional activity.
A detective later reviewed months of receipts and bank statements. The complainant then reported that Pfiel contacted her and admitted she had used Cub Scouts funds for personal use.
Police interviewed Pfiel on August 27, 2025. According to the affidavit, she admitted she used the scout debit card without authorization. She said the first few times were accidental because the card was next to her own in her wallet, but after the transactions went unnoticed, she used the card more frequently for daily expenses.
Investigators identified 80 questionable transactions made between December 10, 2024, and June 20, 2025, totaling $3,368.01. Police wrote that Pfiel admitted to eight of them, totaling $381.80, and said the remaining 72 were “most likely” also hers. She told police that after realizing how much money had been spent, she deposited $1,200 into the account from her personal checking, leaving herself without funds and causing her to continue using the scout account.
Pfiel later provided receipts and documents. One showed that a purchase at Family Dollar on May 16, 2025, for $108.03 was legitimate. A second receipt from Strack & Van Til on January 21, 2025, showed three gift cards totaling $45 as legitimate but also listed beverages and $20 cash back not accounted for. A third document showed an ATM cash deposit into the scout account. Bank records confirmed a $1,200 check cashed and a withdrawal the next day, matching the deposit. After adjusting the totals, the remaining disputed amount was calculated at $1,714.98.
Pfiel later provided a written statement admitting to the theft of $1,714.98 after previously returning $1,500.
Charge filed December 8,2025:
• Theft — Level 6 Felony
