Acacia Crossings Mother Seeks Millions After Alleged Extortion Threat to School District

An alarming situation has unfolded in the Maricopa Unified School District (MUSD), as a parent from Acacia Crossings, Feleesha Withers, alleged extortion against school officials. In a recent email to board members, Withers demanded a tax-free payment of $2.5 million by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, threatening to publicize false accusations if her demands were not met.

Among the allegations, Withers claimed that the attorney general had covered up theft from a grieving family and that the FBI was investigating cases of teacher misconduct within the district. Authorities have labeled these claims as unfounded.

Withers’s grievances center on her 11-year-old son, a student at Maricopa Wells Middle School. She accused the school employees of “racial harassment” at a sensitive time when her family was mourning the loss of a pet. Additionally, she asserted that the confiscation of her son’s cell phone violated federal grand theft laws, claiming emotional distress and damages totaling up to $5 million.

In a striking message, Withers underscored her urgency with a cryptic threat: “YOUR LAST CHANCE: Wire $2.5M by 7:00 PM TODAY … If not, the following WILL happen at 7:01 PM sharp: FBI Whistleblower Complaint filed, National Press Release sent to TMZ.” An ominous image of a skull accompanied her message, which could be interpreted as a veiled threat. She warned that if her family was compelled to go public with their claims, the settlement demand would double to $5 million.

Further bolstering her claims, Withers mentioned support from various notable individuals, including an NBA player and city council members, indicating they were prepared to participate in a press conference.

MUSD spokesperson Mishell Terry responded briefly, stating, “The district is utilizing its normal protocols for investigating parent-reported issues.” When contacted again via email for further comments, she maintained that there was nothing additional to share regarding the situation.

This disturbing case raises questions about the latest developments in the district and the implications of such extreme allegations.