An audit conducted by the State Auditor General found that there are thousands of dollars missing from the accounts of a firemen's relief association in Beaver County.
Auditor General Timothy DeFoor today released an audit that identified more than $39,000 in potential misappropriation from the Monaca Volunteer Fire Company No. 5 Fireman’s Relief Association (VFRA).
The audit was shared with local law enforcement and a suspect has already been charged in connection with the matter.
“I appreciate local VFRA officials bringing this matter to my department’s attention and alerting law enforcement when they discovered their books were out of balance,” DeFoor said. “Cases such as this are rare and should serve as a cautionary tale for relief associations across Pennsylvania.”
According to the audit, there were potentially fraudulent withdrawals and purchases made totaling $39,463.
The audit covered from January 2017 to December 2019.
“My auditors found the association had a cash balance of only $33 at the end of the audit period,” DeFoor said. According to DeFoor, the association receives about $8,500 a year in state aid.
The Auditor General's office recommended better record-keeping as well as reimbursement for the missing money.
The complete report can be viewed on the state's website.