Former Green Valley High school banker sentenced to prison

Family and friends of a former Green Valley High School banker silently sobbed as a Las Vegas judge on Thursday sentenced the mother of three to up to four years in prison for stealing thousands of dollars in student-generated funds from the Henderson campus.

Melissa Traylor, who in July entered a guilty plea for the theft of nearly $144,000 from the school, also broke out in tears as she struggled to read from a letter detailing how a gambling addiction had taken control of her but did not absolve her of the crime.

"I understand what I did was wrong. I understand all of that. I'm very sorry for it," Traylor told Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt.

"I just let an addiction get a hold of me," she added. "I'm a very honest person and not a thief. My mind was warped, completely."

Leavitt, without making a statement from the bench, sentenced Traylor to an agreed minimum sentence of 18 months in prison.

The judge also ordered the 34-year-old to pay $143,745 in restitution.

"Oh my God. I can't believe it," gasped a longtime family friend as Leavitt issued the order.

The friend, whose children attended one of the schools where Traylor worked, asked to remain anonymous but described a somber family gathering on Wednesday night.

Traylor has two young daughters and a 15-year-old son.

"It was almost like a death in the family," she said.

"She (Melissa) acted like tomorrow was just another day. That's how strong she is, but the kids ... cannot and will not go to bed without her,'' she said. "She has a cot on the floor to sleep next to them. They have to touch her to fall asleep."

In February, Clark County School District auditors began combing Green Valley High School financial records following the departure of its principal, a standard trigger for internal audits at the district.

The audit, however, seemed to panic Traylor, who unexpectedly told investigators that $70,000 was taken from her car when she left it unlocked in a Walmart parking lot. Traylor handled all cash receipts for the school.

She attempted to pay back that stolen money by putting any extra money that she and her husband had into deposits and ultimately covered $13,000, according to a police affidavit.

Subsequent interviews with several Green Valley High School administrators, bankers and teachers revealed a nearly two-year history of forged checks, delayed and fraudulent bank deposits and years of hiding cash and coins.

The affidavit suggested Traylor used the stolen money to fund a severe gambling habit.

Through grand jury subpoenas and interviews with convenience store managers and casino operators, investigators found Traylor spent "an average of several hours and sometimes entire (store manager) shifts" gambling at Circle K locations.

Records show Traylor bet more than $3.7 million at area convenience stores, Dotty's taverns and Station casinos over three years.

But since her arrest, Traylor told the judge on Thursday, she has sought treatment and counseling for her gambling addiction. She compared the habit to a drug addiction.

"It takes over your mind, and at the time I didn't think of the consequences for my three children," Traylor said. "This is going to hurt them, and that is my fault."

Contact Neal Morton at nmorton@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0279. Find him on Twitter: @nealtmorton.