EX-Treasurer Of Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department Charged With Embezzling More Than $5.7 Million

The former treasure of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department has been charged with embezzling over $5.7 million and failing to report income to the IRS.

Michael Klein, 48, of Mahopac, New York, and Palm City, Florida, was charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and six counts of subscribing to false tax returns, each of which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

According to the indictment in White Plains federal court, Klein stole funds from the fire department by writing checks to two businesses he owned. Klein then allegedly deposited the checks to bank accounts held by his businesses.

He entered the checks into the fire department books as being paid to a number of vendors who sold firefighting equipment or services used by fire departments.

Over a period of 13 years Klein allegedly wrote 275 checks, stealing over $5.7 million. Klein is accused of using the stolen money to buy, yachts, including a 55-foot yacht, a second home in Florida, and jewelry.

Klein also allegedly failed to report any of the income on his personal tax returns from 2009 through 2014, which led him to submit false tax reforms.

“Public corruption victimizes the public generally, but here, the people of Mahopac and its volunteer firefighters have suffered specifically and directly, having lost almost $6 million that could have been used for good, but instead was allegedly squandered away by Klein,” M.anhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated