BLOOMINGTON – An In
iana University administrator and longtime Monroe County 4-H volunteer is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly using a club-issued credit card for over $11,000 in unauthorized personal purchases and cash withdrawals, according to a probable cause affidavit filed Tuesday in Monroe Circuit Court.
Penny R. Hudoff, 51, has been charged with Level 6 felony theft and Level 6 felony fraud. The alleged unauthorized transactions spanned six years, occurring between 2020 and 2026.
According to court records, Hudoff’s alleged conduct was strictly connected to her volunteer work with 4-H and not her professional role at Indiana University. An IU directory lists Hudoff as the assistant director of curriculum and scheduling at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, a key administrative position within the university. Her LinkedIn profile also highlights a long-standing involvement with youth development, serving as a Monroe County 4-H Junior Leader adviser and club leader since 2010.
The police investigation began on July 28, when a Purdue Extension Monroe County 4-H educator contacted the Bloomington Police Department to report suspected credit card fraud and theft.
A review of transaction history and bank records revealed that Hudoff had been issued a credit card intended for club expenses. Law enforcement identified at least $11,418.79 in explicitly unauthorized personal purchases and ATM withdrawals. In addition to the verified personal charges, investigators noted another $7,817.89 in suspicious transactions believed to be unauthorized, though the 4-H educator could not conclusively determine if they were personal.
On August 3rd, a Bloomington police detective interviewed Hudoff at her Monroe County residence.
Hudoff allegedly claimed some online purchases were accidental, explaining that shopping applications defaulted to the 4-H credit card instead of her personal payment methods.
Court documents state Hudoff acknowledged she did not attempt to reimburse or correct the account after noticing the mistaken charges.
Hudoff admitted to using the card on December 23, 2024, to make over $1,100 in Christmas purchases because she lacked the funds to cover them herself.
Hudoff confirmed that all ATM withdrawals made with the card—totaling $3,940—were used exclusively for personal expenses.
During the interview, Hudoff repeatedly offered to repay between $30,000 and $40,000 to the organization, expressing regret and stating she never intended to cause harm to the children participating in the 4-H program.
Following the investigation, the detective requested that Hudoff be summoned to court on the Level 6 felony charges.
The allegations highlight ongoing vulnerabilities in local non-profit and youth support organizations, which often rely heavily on volunteer leaders to manage day-to-day operations and small-scale accounts. Organizations like 4-H, operated nationally through land-grant university extensions such as Purdue Extension, typically enforce multi-person financial oversight, dual-signature requirements for checks, and regular audit protocols to prevent misuse of club funds. When unexpected financial variances occur, local extension educators work alongside law enforcement to review bank records and audit club spending.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
