The Associated Press
BELLE VERNON, Pa. — A former western Pennsylvania fire chief is accused of buying a boat with department money and then claiming he won it when he later sold it.
Forty-three-year-old Randy Smalley was charged with two counts of theft on Monday.
He was chief of the Washington Township, Fayette County, volunteer fire department.
Authorities say Smalley bought three boats in August 2000 for fundraising prizes, but sold one to a marine center for nearly $10,000, claiming he won it in a raffle.
The charges follow a forensic audit that found Smalley and other tow nship officials cost the department between $175,000 and $200,000 from deals Smalley arranged.
Smalley was removed as chief in 2004 after the department went broke.
He couldn’t be reached for comment.