Aug. 23--The longtime treasurer of a Montgomery County fire company stole nearly $250,000 from the nonprofit, using some of the money to pay for relatives' flights to Las Vegas for his daughter's wedding, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.
Ronald Kenneth Nolan, 62, of 4960 Skippack Pike, Skippack Township, turned himself in to authorities Friday morning. He was released after posting $100,000 bail following his arraignment, court records show.
Ferman said Nolan, who served as Upper Gywnedd Township Fire Company's treasurer for 24 years, used two of the company's credit cards to fund trips to Florida, Jamaica, China and 15 trips to Las Vegas. The thefts allegedly occurred between 2006 and 2012.
Investigators allege that he used the money to pay for expenses related to his daughter's 2006 wedding in Las Vegas, including airfare for wedding guests. He also gambled away thousands of dollars and bought jewelry, computers, clothes, spa visits and tickets to sporting events, Ferman said.
The investigation began shortly after Nolan was voted out of his position in December 2012. Ferman said the new treasurer immediately began examining the company's finances and found irregularities.
Investigators, through an audit and investigation, determined that $249,703 was stolen from the organization.
The investigation revealed that Nolan took cash advances totaling $116,000 from the fire company's bank accounts. In addition, he used the two credit cards to make purchases.
Nolan was charged with seven theft-related charges, including six felonies.
-- Patrick Lester
Copyright 2013 - The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)
