philly.com | 10/16/09 | $100,000 suspect: Lisa Marie Butler
A member of a volunteer fire company in Delaware County who allegedly embezzled more than $100,000 does not recall what she did with the money, her attorney says.
Lisa Marie Butler, 37, treasurer of the Briarcliffe Fire Company in Darby Township, wrote 35 checks from the department coffers for her personal use over two years, District Attorney G. Michael Green announced yesterday.
"Where did [the money] go? She just doesn't remember," said Anthony List, her attorney.
List said Butler was being treated for a medical and psychological condition and that she "did not formulate the criminal intent to commit the crime."
He added that he had serious problems with the accounting practices the fire company used.
Green said Butler used the money for shopping. He said a review found that the mother of two was living beyond her means and added that he didn't know whether Butler was employed.
The alleged theft came to light when the fire company suspended Butler and she was required to turn over the financial records, Green said.
The money was missing from a general account and did not involve any state or federal funding; the stolen money came from donations and fund-raisers, department officials said.
According to court documents, department policy requires two signatures on checks, and Butler was able to get other authorizers in the company to sign blank checks for convenience. She also made two withdrawals from the account, according to the documents. Five of the checks were payable to her husband, Rob, but were endorsed "for deposit only" and did not have his signature, the documents state.
Investigators said they believed Lisa Butler endorsed the checks. Green said he did not believe that Rob Butler, also a member of the fire company, was involved in the alleged fraud.
Department solicitor Michael Puppio said the company president or financial secretary signed the checks after meetings in which specific bills were approved.
"This wasn't something anyone would have thought she would have done," Puppio said, adding that Butler was a trusted member of the 54-year-old fire company, which has about 40 members.
Lisa Butler was a member for 10 years; her husband has been a member for more than 20.
Puppio said he would submit a claim to the department's insurance carrier to try to get the money reimbursed.
Comments