Monday, July 25, 2005

Member charged in theft from Legion

Member charged in theft from Legion: "
More From The Post-Standard | Subscribe To The Post-Standard
Member charged in theft from Legion
Sunday, July 24, 2005
By Diana LaMattina
Staff writer
A Syracuse man Friday was accused of stealing $97,500 from a gaming fund at the Eastwood American Legion.
Eric Stuhler, 48, of 315 S. Midler Ave., was charged by Syracuse police with second-degree larceny and first-degree falsifying business records.
An investigation began in March when the state Racing and Wagering Board realized that fees, funds and quarterly statements for 'bell jar' games were not properly filed from 2001 to 2003 for the Eastwood American Legion, Post 1276, at 102 Nichols Ave., said police Lt. Joe Cecile.

So-called bell jar games, which are sold in New York by nonprofit organizations, are tickets with pull-tabs that reveal a prize to winners.
The state Racing and Wagering Board called Syracuse police and asked them to investigate who was responsible for the missing money, Cecile said. The investigation led to Stuhler, who served as the bell jar chairman, Cecile said.
Stuhler pleaded not guilty in City Court and was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Calls to the Eastwood American Legion and the Legion commander were not returned Saturday."

No comments: