July 20, 2009
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News: Fire Chief Abuses Department's CC
Here's a new twist on credit card fraud. When asked by authorities why he used the Fire Department's cards for personal use, a Lawrence County, PA Fire Chief and Township Supervisor said "my credit is not good." Pennsylvania's Attorney General's Office charged Francis E. "Poncho" Exposito with conflict of interest, theft by deception, and access device fraud in connection to allegations that he made numerous unauthorized personal purchases with the Fire Department's credit cards. Exposito, Chief of the Mahoning Township Volunteer Fire Department was released on his own recognizance and is awaiting a hearing that will determine his fate. In May 2007, Esposito allegedly charged over $2,100 one of the fire department's credit cards to buy appliances and furnishings for his daughter and son-in-law.
Exposito is also charged with the fraudulent use of a second fire department credit card where he purchased a leaf blower, disposable baby diapers, food, and other miscellaneous items once again for his newly married daughter. Estimated charges for those items come to nearly $600. Cathy Stokes, the cousin of Exposito and the fire department's treasurer, confronted him at a department meeting on the unauthorized charges. Chief Exposito said he had planned to pay the entire amount back to the Fire Department before anyone discovered his misuse of the department's credit cards. At that time, Fire Department members voted in favor of letting the Chief make monthly payments to repay the department.
For unknown reason Chief Exposito's cousin, Cathy Stokes, resigned her post with the Fire Department the same month she confronted the Chief. Exposito's daughter, Jessica Kosciuszko has held the position of secretary for the fire department since 2001. At this time, Kosciuszko is not being charged with any wrongdoing. According to the criminal complaint, Chief Exposito stated in an interview with investigators that he still has to pay the department back an estimated $1,500 stemming from the use of the department’s credit cards.