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A Somerset County firefighter is accused of stealing about $285,000 from his own fire department's coffers.
Henry Swincinski turned himself in to police and remains free on bond.
Police said Swincinski served as president and controller of the Winder Volunteer Fire Department and Northern EMS. The said Swincinski is a trusted man who handled the department's accounting.
However, police said the evidence indicates Swincinski wrote 284 checks to himself, his private business and for cash over the past seven years. They said the alleged crimes came to an end in January when a review of a hard drive showed the checks were entered into the computer program fraudulently and disguised as legitimate expenses.
Investigators said they have mounting evidence against him like detailed bank statements, copies of checks and financial information stored on a computer hard drive.
Police said Swincinski is cooperating and the total loss could be as much as $500,000.
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