Mom, Daughter Acquitted of Taking $700K From Pa. Department
Source The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (MCT)
They might not have stolen money, but they’re still guilty of leading investigators astray.
A Luzerne County jury on Wednesday acquitted two women on charges they stole money from a Swoyersville volunteer fire company, but convicted them of violating Pennsylvania’s charitable organizations law by being deceptive to state investigators.
Defense attorneys seemed pleased by the split verdict, as Catherine Drago, 83, and her daughter Carol Gamble, 52, were found not guilty of the felony theft charges they faced.
“The jury didn’t think they took anything,” said Gamble’s defense attorney William Ruzzo. “I’m happy for our clients. The jury found them not guilty of all the felonies.”
Ruzzo predicted the women will likely appeal the conviction on the one charge.
Gamble was president of the now-defunct Swoyersville Volunteer Hose Co. No. 1 and Drago was the treasurer of the fire company. Prosecutors had accused them of pilfering more than $700,000 from the fire company’s lucrative bingo and pull-tab ticket operations.
State investigators who conducted a routine audit of the fire company believed $734,748 of the fire company’s income generated between January 2004 and November 2007 went unaccounted for. An accountant called by the defense testified that he didn’t believe any money was missing.
Poor record keeping and defiance by the defendants made for a tough case, Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Michelle Hardik said.
“I think it was clear the record keeping in this matter created a lot of confusion,” Hardik said.
The other prosecutor in the case, Assistant District Attorney Tom Hogans, said the jury believed Drago and Gamble “gave inaccurate or incomplete answers” to the state Bureau of Charitable Organizations and exhibited “fraudulent or deceptive conduct.”
Drago and Gamble had faced three counts of theft, two counts of violating the state charitable organizations law and one count of conspiracy.
After about two hours of deliberations, jurors found the two not guilty on five of the charges, but found them guilty of one count of violating the state’s charities law.
Drago and Gamble were first charged in December 2008. Afterward, the borough stopped issuing money to the fire company, which was in charge of responding to calls in one-third of the town. Borough council voted to ask Luzerne County 911 to stop dispatching the fire company to calls, a move that effectively put the organization out of business.
At the time charges were filed, prosecutors said a search of Drago’s home in Forty Fort revealed evidence of her penchant for gambling. At Drago’s home, investigators said they found casino courtesy cards from Bally’s, Trump, Claridge, the Tropicana, Hilton, Showboat, Sands and Caesars Atlantic City. Additionally, arrest papers said a financial analysis determined Gamble, of Exeter Township, was spending well beyond her means.
Drago and Gamble were allowed to remain free on bail following the trial.
Leaving court, Drago said, “I’m just thankful to God it’s over with.”
Gamble declined to comment while leaving with her attorney Joseph Sklarosky Sr.
The defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Luzerne County Judge Lesa Gelb set sentencing for Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m.
570-821-2055, @cvbobkal
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