Two charged with stealing money from Denbo-Vesta VFD
CHARLEROI — Two former members of the Denbo-Vesta 6 Volunteer Fire Department were arraigned Tuesday on charges related to the theft of more than $105,000 from the department over the course of a year.
Rachel L. Sargeant, 44, the former department treasurer, and Thomas S. Yuratovich, 42, the former department president, are both charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, conspiracy, unauthorized use of an access device and tampering with evidence. The two live together at 208 Second St., Vestaburg, and allegedly used fire department debit cards to obtain $105,598 for their personal use between February 2013 and March 2014, at which time they were ousted from the department, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges.
Both Sergeant and Yuratovich were signators for the fire department’s bank account. Irregularities in that account were suspected by the department’s secretary, Rosalie Paci, in February 2014. She reported those suspicions to the Centerville Borough Police and the department retained Andrew Richards, owner of Fraud Investigative Services of Pittsburgh.
According to the affidavit, in October 2014 Richards reported to the police that there had been 41 transactions totaling more the $19,322 at ATMs in locations including Uniontown, Wheeling Island and Race Track Road near the Meadows Casino. In addition, there were 21 transactions totaling $41,194 in teller withdrawals and four checks written out to cash totaling $19,530.
Additional transactions totaling more than $25,550 were recorded at Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, Home Depot, Monongahela Valley Hospital, Verizon and other locations.
The couple also allegedly used the funds for numerous trips including two cruises.
Sargeant and Yuratovich are represented by attorney David DiCastro, who said he has not yet had an opportunity to discuss the case with his clients. DiCastro said he still needs to thoroughly review the affidavit outlining the charges. He said he will be requesting copies of the audit that led to the charges.
Magisterial District Judge Joshua Kanalis of Centerville recused himself from the case, which is now being heard by Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins of Charleroi. Hopkins held preliminary arraignments for Sargeant and Yuratovich Tuesday, setting bond at $250,000 straight cash for each of them.
DiCarlo objected to the amount of the bond when it was set for Sargeant, who was arraigned first.
“I think it’s high. I think it’s too high for this. She’s not a flight risk. I think $100,000 would be high,” DiCarlo told the judge.
“I don’t expect you to agree with me. It’s $250,000,” Hopkins responded.
Sargeant and Yuratovich were handcuffed and taken by Centerville police to the Washington County Jail until bail could be arranged.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. for each of them.