RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Shawntrice Andrews, the daughter of Cynthia McQueen, the former principal and CEO of Torchlight Academy Charter School, was arrested and charged with fraud on Thursday, following a five-year-long investigation into alleged financial misconduct.
Andrews, 42, is accused of defrauding the U.S. Department of Education out of approximately $9,350.50, according to the arrest warrants. The charges state that Andrews falsified documents on behalf of Torchlight Academy in order to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Education. She is also accused of attempting to defraud the department of an additional $4,800.62 through the same method.
The investigation, which began in 2020, was spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Education. After years of digging into the case, investigators were able to gather enough evidence to make an arrest. The case was subsequently handed over to the Wake County District Attorney’s Office in late August 2025, culminating in Andrews’ arrest in October.
According to Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, the process took a significant amount of time due to the complexity of the case and the need for thorough investigation. “It’s not clear why it took them some time for this particular case to get that served,” Freeman said, noting the length of time it took to build the case before it could move forward.
Following the arrest, Shawntrice Andrews was released on a written promise to appear in court on Friday afternoon. No bail was set for the accused at this time.
The allegations come after the closure of Torchlight Academy Charter School in 2022, following the discovery of serious violations, including financial issues, falsification of documents, and conflicts of interest among management. Andrews, a longtime educator at the school, had served as a teacher for two decades.
Andrews’ mother, Cynthia McQueen, who also served as the principal and CEO of the charter school, spoke to CBS17 but declined to provide further details, stating that the family had yet to speak with their attorney. “She didn’t do anything, that’s for sure,” McQueen said, insisting her daughter’s innocence in the matter.
As the legal process unfolds, Andrews faces serious charges that could carry significant consequences if she is convicted. The community remains focused on the investigation as further details continue to emerge.
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