Crime & Courts

October 6, 2009

court briefs

WILKES-BARRE – A man who police say stole thousands of dollars from the Hanover Area Youth Soccer Organization was sentenced Monday to two years probation.

Edward J. Albert, 47, of 1334 Sively St., Hanover Township, was sentenced on two counts of theft by failure to make required deposit of funds after pleading no contest to the charges before county Judge Joseph Augello.

Albert paid more than $25,000 in restitution costs Monday.

Police said Albert stole $32,266 from the soccer group and $10,715 from the Hanover Area Youth Basketball League from March 2006 to April 2008. Township police were notified in May 2008 of possible financial irregularities within the soccer organization after an official noticed bank balances were far less than expected.

Sgt. Al Walker and a Luzerne County detective contacted the Department of State’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations Unit, which conducted a forensic audit of the soccer and basketball organizations accounts.

The audit revealed that Albert had written out 68 soccer organization checks to “cash.” He wrote 17 checks out to cash from the basketball league.

A review of Albert’s personal bank accounts showed that the checks or portions of the checks were deposited into them. Authorities interviewed Albert in November and he admitted taking the money to pay his mortgage and other personal bills.

Albert told police he was sorry and ashamed, and that he paid part of the money back by making deposits into the accounts of both organizations without the knowledge of any of the other officers.

WILKES-BARRE – A Hazleton man who police say provided false information when he attempted to purchase a firearm was sentenced Monday to six to 18 months in county jail.

James Moore, 26, last known address listed as East Tamarack Street, Hazleton, was sentenced before county Judge Joseph Augello on charges of transfer of firearms and written false statements.

Moore pleaded no contest to the charges earlier last month. According to the criminal complaint, Moore submitted false information on two applications to purchase a 9-mm pistol from Bob’s Sporting Goods, North Wyoming Street, in May 2008.

Police said Moore completed the application indicating he was never involuntarily committed to a mental-health facility. Police said in the criminal complaint that Moore had been committed to mental-health facilities in February 2004, April 2005 and April 2006.

Augello ordered Moore to complete mental health treatment and to live with his mother. He was given 240 days credit for time already served, and an additional year of probation.

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