Oct 14, 2009 10:30 pm US/Eastern
Fire Company Treasurer Facing Embezzlement Charges
MEDIA, Pa. (CBS 3) ―
A volunteer at a Delaware County fire company is facing charges for stealing more than $100,000 from fire company funds.
Lisa Butler, 37, the volunteer treasurer at the Briarcliffe Fire Company in Darby Township, was charged Wednesday morning with several counts of felony theft. Authorities say between 2006 and 2008, Butler wrote 35 checks to either herself or her husband from fire company funds.
"She was shopping," said Delaware County District Attorney Mike Green. "That's apparently what it was."
The illegal withdrawals total $103,425.
"All of this money, which is lost, could have been used to do things like buy additional firefighting equipment, safety gear," said Green. "Over $100,000 was taken and converted for no better reason than greed."
Authorities do not believe Butler's husband was involved or aware of the embezzlement. They say when confronted with the checks, Lisa Butler confessed.
Officials say the embezzlement first came to light nearly a year ago when Butler was suspended from the fire company for allegedly threatening another member. As part of that suspension, Butler was required to turn over all her records as treasurer. Officials say they quickly learned she was writing checks to herself.
As a safeguard, fire company checks required signatures of two officials – one of which was Butler's. Authorities say Butler got around that provision by having the other official sign blank checks, ostensibly for convenience.
No one from the fire company would speak on camera with Eyewitness News.
Butler's attorney could not easily explain why she was writing checks to herself.
"I don't have an explanation for that right now, but we will have an explanation," said Anthony List, her attorney. "I want to trace those funds. I want to see where the money went, what it was spent for."
List said he had serious concerns about the fire company's financial management.
"A lot of things were left to one's imagination and were loosely handled."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Openly Gay Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments