Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

By RON LIEBACK [email protected]
Thursday, November 25, 2004     Page: 3A

PLYMOUTH – The former treasurer for a non-profit group that organized the
borough’s Kielbasa festival has been charged with taking $3,800 from the
group.
   
Police said treasurer Richard Joseph Salerno, 54, admitted cashing 14
checks for personal use from the account of Plymouth Alive! account between
April of 2003 and July of 2004.
    Attorney Michael Hudacek Jr., who sits on the Plymouth Alive! board,
contacted police in September in reference to what looked like a theft of
funds.
   
Hudacek, with President Edward Vnuk and board member Nolda Robins Jr.,
became suspicious Salerno was withdrawing money from the group’s bank account,
court papers said.
   
Salerno, of West Saylor Street, once delivered his report on the bank
account and said the group had more than $5,000, police said. Salerno was
elected the treasurer of the organization in April of 2003.
   
Vnuk, owner of Sports Jes on East Main Street, told police the organization
never had in excess of $5,000.
   
According to police, on Nov. 3, Salerno admitted to taking the funds to
keep his business, Salerno Insurance Group, formerly at 11 W. Main St.,
Plymouth, in operation and to pay personal bills.
   
Salerno told police he would persuade either Hudacek or Vnuk to sign a
blank check under the pretense of paying Plymouth Alive! expenses. But on
numerous occasions, he made the checks payable to himself, police said.
   
Salerno told police he needed the money because he lost his house, vehicle
and business due to financial difficulties.
   
Salerno allegedly took money between April 30, 2003 and June 4, 2004.
   
Salerno was charged with theft by deception and theft by failure to make
required funds received. His bail will be set at a preliminary hearing before
District Justice Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8.
   
Plymouth Alive! is dedicated to promoting downtown Plymouth and attracting
shoppers.
   
Board members said the festival, held in August, almost didn’t happen
because of a lack of funding. Board members said they loaned money to the
organization to make sure the festival, the first of its kind, could go
forward.