Former Bolivar Fire Dept. Treasurer Accused of Embezzling $119k

From the Wellsville Daily

A former Bolivar Fire Department treasurer allegedly misappropriated $119,000 in Bolivar Joint Fire District funds over 10 years, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office announced Monday.

The treasurer, who was not identified in the audit report, resigned March 15, while the comptroller’s office was doing its audit.

“We found that the treasurer apparently diverted moneys received on behalf of the district into bank accounts held by him, and he disbursed moneys from district accounts for unauthorized purposes,” DiNapoli said in the report. “The treasurer did not respond to our attempts to meet with him to discuss these apparent misappropriations. The treasurer also admitted to paying himself stipends exceeding the amount of compensation approved by the Board (of Fire Commissioners). We have referred these matters to law enforcement for investigation.”

The audit covered Jan. 1, 2008 through April 27, 2010. It reportedly found $85,861 in diverted receipts, $17,188 in unauthorized disbursements, $6,700 in unauthorized stipend payments and $9,750 in misappropriated Firemen’s Association’s funds.

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