Former North Flatbush BID Executive Director Charged With Stealing $85,000 From The Organization

The former executive director of a local business improvement district has been indicted for allegedly taking more than $85,000 from the BID’s budget to use on mani-pedis, Beyonce tickets, Weight Watchers, and more.

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office announced Monday that 63-year-old Sharon Davidson, who resigned from her position at the North Flatbush BID abruptly after five years in 2013, allegedly withdrew money from the BID’s accounts repeatedly, deposited checks for the BID into her personal accounts, wrote BID checks to herself, and used BID debit cards to make unauthorized purchases — including $400 worth of manicures and pedicures, $600 for Beyonce concert tickets, $600 for Weight Watchers, $3,000 at Fresh Direct, $4,000 at Talbots, and a whopping $13,000 in Paypal purchases for things like shoes, clothing, jewelry, makeup, and meals at restaurants.

The DA also alleges that Davidson applied for unemployment benefits from the State while she was still working at the BID, receiving $5,190.

“The 150 small business owners who joined the North Flatbush BID paid into it with the expectation that those funds would be used to promote their businesses,” said District Attorney Kenneth Thompson in a statement. “Instead, the defendant allegedly used the BID’s accounts as her own personal piggy bank, spending non-stop on everything from airline tickets to chocolates. She will now be held accountable.”

When Davidson left the BID it was running a deficit, and at the time DNAinfo reported that a city agency came in to do an audit of the BID, which is apparently what led to the discovery of the alleged theft.

Davidson has been charged with multiple counts of grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree scheme to defraud, and several counts of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, and her lawyer tells the Daily News that she has records to back up her innocence and “wants to fight the case.” She’s due back in court on May 13.