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Pocono News Section
Wilkes-Barre Township Tax Collector Charged With Theft
Wilkes-Barre Township Tax Collector Charged With Theft - Friday, February 1, 2008 at 6:04PM EST
Reported by: Jill Konopka
Friday, Feb 1, 2008 @06:04pm EST
(WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, Luzerne County) - Wilkes-Barre Township's Tax Collector turns herself in, accused of stealing thousands of taxpayer dollars. The District Attorney's Office arrested Ruth Ann Lyons of Wilkes-Barre Friday morning, more than two weeks after she was suspended without pay over missing money from the Township. Ruth Ann Lyons broke down in court crying, over allegations she stole more than $48,000.00 from the Wilkes-Barre Township payroll. Court papers also show Lyons admits to stealing the money and she says she’s sorry. 41-year-old Ruth Ann Lyons hides her face as members of her family escort her out of court Friday morning. The suspended Wilkes-Barre Township tax collector is charged with stealing more than $48,000.00 from the Township's payroll. Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll stated, "Unfortunately, we're in a situation where we're seeing more and more of people in positions of public trust who are violating that trust." Violations, the District Attorney says happened on 59 occasions with Lyons allegedly pocketing $500.00 to $1,400 dollars every time. D.A. Musto Carroll added, "She was writing checks out of the payroll account to herself and she was forging other peoples' names to give authorization." Court papers also show Lyons deleted the checks from the account after she paid herself. Lyons has confessed to the crime sighting “money problems.” Reporter Jill Konopka asked, “A little bit of financial woes? It says in court documents? Lyons Attorney Peter Moses replied, “I'm not going to speculate on the reasons. At the appropriate time she'll have the chance to address the court and at time maker her feelings known.” As for Wilkes-Barre Township taxpayers, Musto Carroll stated, "It's not a situation where they're not going to be getting credit for whatever they paid the township." The District Attorneys office says they'll continue to prosecute people who betray the trust of taxpayers. Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Killino said, "We're not distracted because of all the drugs or homicides. This is just as serious as those crimes and will be pursued." Thanks to other township workers who discovered the discrepancies as far back as 2006. Wilkes-Barre Township Mayor Carl Kuren did not wish to speak with WBRE-TV yet about these latest developments. We also called Township Solicitor Bruce Phillips. He says Ruth Ann Lyons’ position will be under review and the Mayor and Township Council will have to decide whether she'll be terminated. Lyons faces up to seven years in jail and a $15,000.00 fine. | | |
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