Brownwood News – Arrests have been made in the case of money stolen from the Lake Brownwood Lions Club, an investigation that began in the summer of 2017 by the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.

A mother and her two daughters are charged. Coleman residents Mary Lou Smith, 60, and Jay Lynn Smith Taylor, 39, were arrested on Friday, September 20, on Brown County indictments of theft against a non-profit organization and engaging in organized criminal activity, according to Brown County jail records and the indictments. They turned themselves in to the Brown County Law Enforcement Center, according to authorities.  They were released on bonds totaling $50,000 each.

Jay Lynn Smith Taylor                  Billie Lou Smith-Rhodes                   Mary Lou Smith

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According to Coleman County Sheriff, Les Cogdill, he arrested Billie Lou Smith-Rhodes, 41, at her residence on Commercial Avenue in Coleman on Thursday, September 19. She was taken to the Coleman County Jail and bonded out of jail later that same day, Cogdill said. Her bonds also totaled $50,000.

According to Brown County Sheriff, Vance Hill, investigation by his department revealed the three, who served on the Lake Brownwood Lions Club Board, were believed to be using Lions Club profits for their own personal gain. They are accused of theft of $103,000 between July 1, 2013 and on or about July 24, 2017, the indictment states.