Ambulance treasurer arrested

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May 16, 2008

<a href="mailto:lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com">By LOHR McKINSTRY</a> The Press Republican Fri May 16, 2008, 12:33 PM EDT

MORIAH — The treasurer for Moriah Ambulance Squad has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the group’s funds.

Rebecca A. Rodriguez, 37, of 17 Wasson St., Witherbee was charged with the felonies of third-degree grand larceny, second-degree forgery and first-degree falsifying business records.

An investigation by Moriah Town Police and the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation revealed that $9,600 was missing from the rescue squad’s treasury.

Squad Capt. Neil A. Dupee notified police about discrepancies with the squad’s checking account, BCI Capt. Robert LaFountain said.

LaFountain said Rodriguez was serving as the squad’s acting treasurer when she cashed three checks totaling $9,600, drawn on the squad’s account.

He said Rodriguez altered the squad’s checking-account ledger in an attempt to conceal the withdrawals and forged another member’s signature on checks.

Moriah Office-in-Charge Steve Stahl said checks for $6,000 and $600, payable to the Ambulance Squad, were allegedly converted to personal cashier’s checks by Rodriguez, but that money has been recovered.

He said another $3,000 was missing but an offer of repayment was made at the time of her arrest.

Rodriguez was arraigned before Moriah Town Justice Brian Venne and released on her own recognizance.

The forgery charge stems from the squad’s requirement that two people sign checks before they can be cashed, Stahl said.

“We believe she forged the other required signature on the checks,” he said.

Rodriguez has been suspended from the Moriah Ambulance Squad and has turned in her gear, Dupee said.

“We’ve asked for her resignation.”

He said she was a squad member for about five years.

Dupee said the missing funds first came to light when he and the bank manager at the Port Henry branch of Glens Falls National Bank noticed unusual activity on the squad’s account.

“Two of the checks were returned,” Dupee said. “We got that money back. She (Rodriguez) offered to pay back the remaining money. I told her to take the money and turn herself in to Moriah Police.”

He said he notified Stahl that Rodriguez was coming, and she went to the Moriah Police Station.

“I’m sorry this had to happen,” Dupee said. “It’s not good publicity for us, but we did what we had to do.”

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at:

lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com