posted on: Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Gary Snyder

A 2009 study on the topic by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners revealed that more than 55 percent of its members performed more fraud-related investigations in 2008 than in 2007. Although this study does not show a higher occurrence rate possibly because agencies are ashamed to report them because their “best” practices didn’t catch the malfeasance.

Nonprofit Imperative, the twice-weekly e-newsletter, has shown a substantial increase in fraud. There has, however, been an interesting wrinkle in the age of the perpetrators of the crimes.

This week we have seen the following:

• A New Jersey 87-year-old pleading guilty to embezzling more than $375,000 from the FAA;
• The 60-year old treasurer of the Van Buren Youth (MI) Fair Association was caught embezzling up to $50,000;
• A 70-year old who managed a D.C. government program was indicted on charges of embezzling $281,000;
• A 62-year old was sentenced to 26 months imprisonment for theft of federal fund at the Crow Creek Tribal School and bribery;
• A 65-year old Tucson Museum of Art’s accountant was indicted of embezzling $973,000;
• A 73 year old administrative secretary has been charged with embezzling $95,000 from the Saford (PA) city coffers;
• A 74-year old awaits trial for embezzling $500,000 a year from the city of Vernon (CA).

Is this a trend or a sign of the recessionary times?


Gary R. Snyder is the author of Nonprofits: On the Brink. He is a frequent lecturer and author of articles in numerous publications and blogs. His email is gary.r.snyder@gmail.com; website: www.garyrsnyder.com, phone: 248.324.3700.