Cumberland Times News
WESTERNPORT, Md. — Four members of a Westernport family were indicted last month in connection with the alleged theft of more than $50,000 from the Tri-Towns Ambulance and Rescue Squad. The alleged embezzlement apparently took place over a nine-year period dating back to 2006.
The matter was investigated by the C3I Unit following an initial complaint made to the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office in June 2014. The complaint was filed by current officers of the Tri-Towns squad.
An 18-month investigation included subpoena of bank, credit card and purchasing records and review of those transaction documents, investigators said. The review reportedly determined that more than $57,000 in organization funds could not be accounted for and had been allegedly misappropriated by four different members of the same family, all of whom were members of the ambulance service.
The case was presented in November to an Allegany County grand jury, which returned indictments against Lonzy Robert Clark Jr., 64; Rhonda Ray Clark, 57; Crystal Lynn Clark, 37; and April Mae Woolard, 34, all on charges of theft scheme from $1,000 to $10,000, according to a C3I press release provided to the Times-News upon request Tuesday.
The defendants were identified as husband and wife and the daughters of the couple.
All three Clarks are scheduled for their initial circuit court appearances on Jan. 5 at 9 a.m. Woolard was scheduled to appear in her initial hearing Tuesday.
Josh Burkett, chairman of the board of directors of the Tri-Towns squad, said Tuesday that all of the Clark family members who are charged in the case are long-time members of the organization who have served as officers. He said Lonzy Clark had served as president, Rhonda Clark as financial secretary and April Clark as administrative secretary.
He said all of the defendants resigned when the criminal investigation began. They were subsequently dismissed from the squad by the organization, Burkett said.
“This matter had the potential to affect the squad but we got it stopped in time. It did not affect the care of our patients or the operation of the squad. We just want to reiterate that we are still in operation and answering calls as normal,” said Burkett, who is a 10-year member of the Tri-Towns Rescue Squad, as it is commonly known.
The Tri-Towns squad is not affiliated with the Potomac Volunteer Fire Department located at Westernport.
The rescue squad averages about 1,300 calls for service annually. Two county-employed paramedics are stationed with the squad that relies on the services of 25 to 35 active volunteers, according to Burkett.
Burkett said any inquiries about the matter may be made to the squad by calling 301-359-3067.
Dick DeVore, chairman of the Allegany County Emergency Services Board that oversees fire and EMS organizations in the county, commended the Tri-Towns squad for “putting in place the appropriate mechanisms to find out when things like this happen.”
“We are very happy with the Tri-Towns Rescue Squad,” he said. “They did a phenomenal job in laying this out for the C3I Unit. It is very disheartening when we see things like this happen but it is important to move on and that is exactly what has happened in this case.
“Tri-Towns has a responsibility to the citizens and taxpayers and Tri-Towns has taken responsible actions to correct this matter and go forward without any interruption in service.”
In recent years, financial irregularities have been uncovered in other volunteer fire departments in the county, including Baltimore Pike and Clarysville, that resulted in criminal charges. The McCoole Volunteer Fire Department closed several years ago as the result of financial difficulties. There was a grand jury review of the McCoole matter but no indictment was returned.
In Mineral County, the Short Gap Volunteer Fire Department was the victim of an embezzlement that resulted in an arrest and conviction in recent years. Earlier this year, indictments were returned following an investigation of financial records at the Ridgeley Volunteer Fire Department. The defendants who were members of the departments are awaiting trial in that case.
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©2015 the Cumberland Times News (Cumberland, Md.)