Gray skies have been looming over the Rawlinsville Volunteer Fire Company the last six months. The tight-knit team, working for the community, has been investigating one of its own members for stealing more than $150,000.
“We got phone calls from our creditors saying that they weren’t getting paid for certain bills,” says Charles Grimasuckas, President of the Rawlinsville Fire Company.
It set off an alert that lead to an internal audit.
“We went to the bank at the time and found our balance was almost zero.”
After the audit was completed, Grimasuckas reported to police that the department was burnt by 35-year-old Vicki Messier, the fire company's treasurer of seven years.
“It was a shock to a lot of members who have been friends with her for numerous years. You feel violated,” explains Grimasuckas.
CBS-21 News stopped by the address listed for Messier in the criminal complaint. No one came to the door.
The fire company has been able to operate normally, despite the money mess. The department’s insurance company has agreed to pay for the lost funds.
“We never skipped a beat. We never missed a call,” says the President.
The donated dollars were stolen between 2003 and 2009.
In the court papers, Messier admitted to being the sole person responsible for the lost money. Police say she was going through a divorce and used the funds to pay credit card bills.
Messier allegedly used the President’s stamped signature to endorse the stolen checks. Grimasuckas says he had no knowledge of this.
Messier is charged with numerous counts of Theft by unlawful taking and Forgery.
Messier’s attorney says his client has begun putting money aside to pay for the crimes.
A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled.
