Windber man accused of stealing nearly $60K from club
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A Windber man is facing felony charges after he was accused of stealing nearly $60,000 from the Slovak Educational Club in Somerset County.
John Gerula, 40, is accused of taking money from the club's machines for six months when he was the vice president of the Slovak Educational Club, according to the criminal complaint. On June 6, officers from the Windber Borough Police Department received a complaint from the other club members that Gerula allegedly had been pocketing money from different machines that the club had.
The president, the trustee, and the bar manager of the club reported to the police that shortly after when Gerula became vice president they started to have money issues, according to the affidavit. At the time of the report, they believed that there was roughly $56,000 missing. Officers advised the club to have an audit done by their CPA.
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On June 4, Gerula resigned from his position in the club. On that same day, officers arrived at the club and heard two males arguing in the parking lot. They identified themselves as Gerula and another man. The other man told officers that he was confronting Gerula about the missing money and allegedly said there was a video of him pocketing the money.
During the confrontation, Gerula allegedly admitted that he took $500 "that was owed to him" and another $500 that didn't belong to him. Gerula then told officers he did not know of any other incidents of stolen money, according to the complaint.
On June 7, officers learned that Gerula had taken all of his belongings out of his residence and police did not know of his whereabouts.
On June 28, the other club members dropped off a report of the alleged missing money. Here's what they said went missing each month:
January: $139
February: $7,117
March: $22,103.75
April: $10,894
May: $16,928
June: $2,061
In total, the club said that $59,242.75 was unaccounted for. Gerula was arraigned in court on Sept. 25.
He is in the Somerset County Prison with bail set at $200,000. Gerula is facing felony charges of theft by failing to make required deposits for funds, receiving stolen property, criminal attempt of theft by failing to make required deposits for funds and other related charges.
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He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 9.
