A 32-year-old Salisbury woman who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15,000 from a high school band organization will serve six months of home detention, the Wicomico State’s Attorney’s Office said.

Brooke Cook pleaded guilty last week to engaging in a theft scheme stemming from her service as Treasurer of the Wicomico High School Band Boosters.

Wicomico Circuit Court Judge Jimmy Sarbanes accepted the plea and sentenced Cook to five years with all but six months suspended, to be served on home detention.

According to prosecutors, Cook will then be on three years of supervised probation and be required to pay $15,085.04 in restitution.

Between December 2021 and June 2022, Cook fraudulently used a Band Boosters’ debit card for her own personal benefit. In addition to using the debit card at multiple stores throughout Wicomico County, she used Band Booster funds to make payments on her mortgage and her car loan.

“Cook’s conviction should – and hopefully the Court’s sentence – will serve as a deterrent to others inclined to violate the position of trust afforded them by their colleagues,” said Wicomico State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes.

The chief prosecutor also commended Detective D. Munir of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant State’s Attorney Kyle J.F. Colbert for their work on the case.