Cops: Secretary stole 'staggering' $643k from ambulance co.

[EMT City Administrator]

By Frank Kummer, The Philadelphia Inquirer

March 12--A secretary for the Warrington Community Ambulance Corps is accused to pilfering $642,741 from the small nonprofit to fuel a gambling habit.

"Staggering," is how Marc J. Furber, who is prosecuting the case for the Bucks County District Attorney's Office, characterizes the theft. "Especially considering we're talking about a community organization that relies on public funds and donations."

Indeed, the most recent financial filings for the ambulance corps show it has assets totaling little more than $1 million.

Authorities say Danette Marie Lewchick, 56, of Jamison, began stealing money in 2008 and continued through 2012 when an independent audit turned up spending discrepancies for the ambulance corps.

Furber said the paper trail shows that Lewchick forged signatures to write checks to herself, and also made ATM withdrawals from the corps' account.

She was spending large sums of that money at Parx casino in Bensalem, and the Sands casino in Bethlehem, authorities contend.

Lewchick was charged Monday. She faces 11 charges, including theft by deception and forgery. She was held on 10 percent of $250,000 bail.

Lewchick's attorney, Jeffrey Solar, could not be reached immediately for comment.

Contact the Breaking News Desk at BreakingNewsDesk@philly.com

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[island emt]

When are these so called Non Profits going to learn proper cash management and auditing procedures. How in the hell does someone steal $642,000 over a period of 4 years and nobody notices????

Where are the checks & balances in the financial system of this department?