Toni Marie Rambo

A former Azleway employee was sentenced to 40 years in prison for stealing about $190,000 over a three-year period from the Boys’ Ranch for foster children.

Toni Marie Rambo, 64, of Troup, who was the director of quality control for the ranch until August 2018, was sentenced Thursday in the 114th District Court, according to Smith County judicial records.

She pleaded guilty on Feb. 21 to an enhanced charge of property theft between $150,000 and $300,000. The charge was enhanced because she is accused of stealing from a nonprofit organization, according to the arrest warrant.

A forensic accounting performed by The Burkett Firm revealed Rambo had misappropriated $189,916 between February 2015 and August 2018.

A spokesman for the Smith County Sheriff’s Office said Rambo turned herself in at the Smith County Jail on Oct. 28 last year. Rambo was released the same day after posting bail on a $300,000 bond.

In March 2019, attorney Bill Hommel, representing Azleway, contacted the Smith County Sheriff’s Office to report the theft.

Azleway’s interim CEO, Chester Amidon, told detectives that Rambo oversaw weekly cash allowance disbursements to children who lived at the residential center. They would receive a certain amount each week for exhibiting good behavior and performing jobs.

During an interview with Azleway, administrators and the attorney, Rambo was questioned about misappropriating the money and confessed. She was fired a short time later. The director told detectives that he did not record or transcribe that interview, though.

Rambo is accused of altering allowance sheets for children by changing the amounts and pocketing the rest. One example given was a sheet showing a resident earned $7. Rambo then added $75 for an amount totaling $82 and kept the $75.

In response to Rambo’s arrest, a spokesperson for Azleway released a statement on Oct. 30.

“On behalf of all employees and the children we serve, Azleway is deeply appreciative of the concern and support sent forth by our community. Azleway has a policy of not discussing open matters concerning current or former employees,” the statement read. “We respect our employees’ right to a thorough examination of any issue before commenting publicly.”

Azleway is a nonprofit that provides foster care services and substance abuse programs. It describes its Boys’ Ranch in Smith County, as providing “inpatient psychological and support services for troubled youth in a rural residential setting.”

Cory McCoy contributed to this report.