Arrest made in $1 million embezzlement
A former official at the Shillington Social Quarters embezzled about $1 million from the organization over five years, Berks County detectives said Nov. 24.
Vycky L. Macri, 50, of the 1100 block of Hickory Lane, Exeter Township, surrendered to detec t i ves f rom t he district attorney’s office Nov. 24 on charges of theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and receiving stolen property.
She was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail following arraignment before District Judge David L. Yoch.
The investigation began in February after county de
tectives received a complaint about the discovery of financial irregularities involving a significant amount of money at the social quarters.
“This is just another example of monies being stolen from a nonprofit organization,” said District Attorney John T. Adams. “Unfortunately, it has occurred too often. Every nonprofit must have oversight from their respective boards to prevent theft and fraud from occurring.
“The board of this nonprofit appeared to be asleep at the wheel. Nonprofit organizations need to install appropriate checks and balances to prevent theft and fraud from occurring so that they can fulfill their mission to the public without interruption.”
No one answered the phone numbers listed for the social quarters Tuesday to respond to the DA’s criticism.
According to investigators:
Macri had been affiliated with the social quarters since 2008.
During her tenure, she served as the bar manager, the secretary and treasurer for more than six years. She was entrusted to oversee the entire operation of the social quarters, maintain and reconcile financial records, perform an audit of the cash and make timely bank deposits.
During the investigation, detectives interviewed numerous people associated with the social quarters and obtained records from financial institutions, vendors and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
The detectives first learned that the club at 38 S. Sterley St. had been operating without a valid liquor license since March 2019. They said Macri was responsible for obtaining the license.
Detectives then set to work examining the financial records and bank statements from the past five years.
Based on a review of those documents from 2015 through February 2020 the bank deposits totaled $311,381. During the same timeframe, the social quarters reported bar sales of $293,839 to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The net difference was $17,541.
In addition, a review of purchase records provided by the vendor who supplied the social quarters with small games of chance found an estimated $1.1 million of income should have been generated along with the bar sales.
Based on the results of the investigation, detectives found the social quarters suffered a financial loss of about $1 million.
On Monday, detectives filed criminal charges against Macri and an arrest warrant was issued.