Pine-Richland teacher, treasurer admits to white collar crimes

White collar crimes like fraud and embezzlement are not taken lightly by lawmakers and law upholders. Theft crimes can vary between misdemeanor and felony, but when someone steals hundreds of thousands from taxpayers, chances are that a judge and jury will come down hard on the culprit. If you know someone who has been arrested for white collar crimes such as fraud or embezzlement, he or she will need an experienced and qualified criminal defense attorney to represent them in court and negotiations. A teacher from Pine-Richland school district turned himself in and admitted to stealing approximately $175,000 from the Pine-Richland teacher’s union on Monday. The man has not been charged with any crimes yet, but is likely to be as soon as his admission is evaluated. The suspect’s attorney told reporters that his client “…turned himself in on his volition” and that he “had reached the end of the rope in terms of dealing with it mentally.” The crime, says his attorney, can be partially blamed on the man’s drinking and gambling issues. The suspect, who was the treasurer of the Pine-Richland Education Association, admitted to the teacher’s union that he stole approximately $175,000. The man detailed his crimes to the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and charges are expected to be filed within the next few days. A spokesperson from the D.A.’s office declined comment, but a spokesperson from the Pennsylvania Education Association said that its lawyers are still investigating the crimes. A spokesperson from the Pine-Richland Education Association was not available for comment. Oddly enough, however, the suspect was voted to be placed on sabbatical just a few months ago in October of 2014.Upon interview, one Pittsburgh defense lawyer said that admitting guilt right off the bat in a case like this is not very orthodox, but said if his lawyer believes it will help him in court, then it’s probably a good call. The lawyer said that since the economic downturn of 2008, fraud and embezzlement cases are up 20% for him. It shows that when people feel they are back into a corner, they’ll do anything they can to get out…even if it means stealing. If you have been arrested for white collar crimes such as fraud or embezzlement, call Pittsburgh criminal defense attorney Gary Gerson today for a free consultation at 412-496-8700. Source: TribLive.com, “Attorney: Pine-Richland educator admits to stealing $175K from teacher’s union” 12 January 2015