Pocono News Section

Mother Daughter Duo Steals Half Million Dollars

Mother Daughter Duo Steals Half Million Dollars - Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 5:58PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008 @ 05:58pm EST
SWOYERSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY- Police say it was a mother - daughter team that swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from a fire company in Swoyersville. Carol Gamble is the former president of Swoyersville Fire Hose Company #1.

She was arraigned on theft and conspiracy charges Tuesday morning at district court in Swoyersville. Police say she helped steal more than half a million dollars from the company.

Gamble didn't have anything to say after her arraignment at the Swoyersville municipal building. She's facing several theft and conspiracy charges.

So is her mother, Catherine Drago, who was the company’s treasurer. Police say they both took money from company bingo profits and spent it on themselves.

They then lied to the state Bureau of Charitable Organizations. They didn't report the company’s total income. It was off by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Police say Gamble may have gambled the stolen money away with her mother. During the investigation police reports show several courtesy cards from Atlantic City casinos were found in both Gamble and Drago's homes.

On Tuesday, gamble turned herself and was released on $50,000 unsecured bail. But Drago was out of state. Police say she'll turn herself in before Monday. Gamble's bail was also set at $50,000.