ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Florissant woman now faces a dozen charges after allegedly spending more than $17,000 using a debit card belonging to the HOA.
According to records, the Wedgwood Homeowner’s Association contacted police after it noticed several unauthorized purchases and withdrawals from its checking account between July 2025 and November 2025.
The HOA told officers that Shellia Bell (age not provided), who served as treasurer, had access to the account. The fraudulent transactions included:
- $5,600: Cash withdrawal (July 2, 2025)
- $2,000: Cash withdrawal (July 2, 2025)
- $1,132.78: Southwest Airlines (July 11, 2025)
- $100: Mack’s Automotive (July 28, 2025)
- $1,474.73: Holiday Inn (July 29, 2025)
- $200: Apple cash (July 30, 2025)
- $1,800: Cash withdrawal (Aug. 4, 2025)
- $251.08: Ameren (Aug. 21, 2025)
- $1,700: Cash withdrawal (Sept. 5, 2025)
- $500: Cash withdrawal (Oct. 6, 2025)
- $752: Ameren (Oct. 29, 2025)
- $2,000: Cash withdrawal (Nov. 4, 2025)
In total, $17,510.59 was taken from the HOA bank account. Police investigated the transactions by issuing subpoenas to the businesses where the debit card was used and where the withdrawals occurred.
Bell had agreed to pay her landlord $8,000 on July 2, 2025, and $7,600 was withdrawn from the bank in a single day. Surveillance footage captured Bell inside the bank.
Southwest flight tickets to Mexico were purchased under Bell’s name and a man’s name. Security cameras at a Holiday Inn in Chicago also showed Bell checking into the hotel. The Apple account linked to the Apple Cash transactions was also in her name.
Both payments to Ameren revealed that Bell’s account was listed as “in collections” and “subject to disconnection” before she withdrew the money and made the payments.
Bell was voted out of her role as treasurer on Nov. 4, 2025. Officials said she did not return the debit card, checkbook, treasurer reports, PO Box key, and other tax documents to the HOA. When confronted, Bell allegedly submitted a forged document claiming she owned the items through marriage. However, the actual property owner stated he had never been married to her.
Bell faces seven counts of stealing $750 or more and five counts of fraudulent use of a credit/debit device. She is currently being held on a $100,000 bond.