Ex-secretary of tiny Jefferson Co., PA, borough charged with stealing $300k
Tammy Laird appeared in U.S. District Court on Friday to face more than two dozen wire fraud counts in ripping off Corsica, Pa., a village east of Clarion with a population of about 357. Starting in 2009 and lasting until last year the former secretary of the tiny Jefferson County borough fleeced the community of some $300,000, according to a federal grand jury.
Ms. Laird was secretary and treasurer there and handled all the bills, earning $12.50 an hour.
She issued checks from the borough's accounts at S&T Bank and the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust to herself, her husband and her father in the total amount of $256,000.
She also issued electronic payments from the borough accounts to pay $21,425 in personal expenses, including bills for Sears, Verizon and her Discover card. In addition, the grand jury said she accessed the borough's account at Staples, which was to be used for office supplies, and bought personal items totaling another $27,917.
In addition, the grand jury said Laird provided false information to a member of borough council to secure a $15,000 loan from S&T Bank in the name of the borough and then used the money for herself.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly released Laird on a $25,000 bond after a brief hearing and ordered her to turn over all of her guns to a brother.
https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/12/21/Ex-secretary-of-tiny-Jefferson-Co-borough-charged-with-stealing-300k/stories/201812210134
