Ex-cop stole $315K from Fireman's Relief Fund in Pa. county

[left-of-center2012]

A 41-year-old former Allentown, PA, police officer faces criminal charges after being accused of stealing $315,221 from the Fireman’s Relief Fund Association in Lehigh Township. Corey Edward Cole Jr. is expected to surrender Friday morning at the district court in the township, township police Chief Scott Fogel said in a news release. The charges Cole faces are 211 counts of forgery, 165 counts of access device fraud, one count of theft, one count of receiving stolen property, one count of tampering with a public record and one count of fabricating physical evidence.

Cole was an 18-year veteran who left the Allentown police force in August after township police said the Pennsylvania auditor general’s office was fast-tracking an investigation into years-long thefts from the township organization, city police Chief Tony Alsleben and Fogel said. Cole was dismissed from the township fire company, Fogel said.

Cole, a township resident, was treasurer of the relief fund, which authorities previously said was separate from the Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Co. but supports the firefighters there. The accounts are state funded and may be used only for limited outlays, including survivors’ benefits, authorities said.

In an August preliminary review, township police said Cole spent the money on restaurants, online shopping and entertainment.

The results of an audit, which covered January 2011 to Aug. 7, 2018, showed Cole forged 211 checks and completed 165 fraudulent ATM/credit card transactions linked to the relief fund account.

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/04/ex-cop-stole-315k-from-firemans-relief-fund-in-pa-county-authorities-say.html

[Historic NY]

1. Stealing from his own.....

We've seen it happen, time and time again. Near me one fire district 5 million, other 3 million, 1/2 million etc..... Makes me laugh when the courts say the have to repay. Yeah ok steal from another. I am always suspicious when people are anxious to fill these positions. When there isn't any checks and balances they can get away with anything.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. This sort of thing happens fairly often

in churches, also, because someone has access to the money and there's never an audit. Likewise some small businesses. Again, no outside audit, no oversight.

Then of course there's things like the military which can't account for, what is it, trillions? of dollars.

Oh, and I just read about some scam of Medicare connected with some kind of braces or other such devices.

Hmmm. It does seem as though embezzlement and theft is incredibly common.

[safeinOhio]

3. Does not surprise me.

I was married to a cop. When ever I mentioned any of her illegal actions, she would tell me “who’s going to arrest me I’m a cop”.

[bullwinkle428]

4. Guess whose house may "accidentally" catch on fire now?