Gambrills Woman Pleads Guilty To Stealing Money From Swim Club

GAMBRILLS, MD -- The Anne Arundel County State's attorney's office announced that Kimberly Rae Champagne, 47, has pleaded guilty to one count of theft after she was charged with using her position to steal thousands of dollars from the Waugh Chapel Swim Club. Champagne served as the club's "dive team representative" for nine years.

Champagne pleaded guilty to stealing between $1,500 to $25,000 from the swim club between Oct. 1, 2017, and Dec. 11, 2017, the Capital Gazette reported. She was indicted by an Anne Arundel grand jury Jan. 25 after police confirmed in 2018 that they were investigating the swim club after an internal report conducted by the club discovered $66,000 in missing cash and false charges. Some of the questionable purchases made by Champagne include movie rentals, groceries, Amazon orders and other personal items, the Capital Gazette disclosed.

Champagne also was charged with stealing between $10,000 and $100,000 from the club between June 15, 2016, and Sept. 30, 2017. A second swim club representative, Ron Shapard, served as treasurer and was fired in December 2018 for not filing tax returns. According to the Capital Gazette, no charges have been filed against Shapard.