BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bethlehem’s now-former finances and finance director is accused of utilizing metropolis cash to order hundreds of {dollars} price of electronics, then reselling them and pocketing the cash.
Mark Sivak, who was fired from his metropolis place final week amid the investigation, is going through felony fees of theft, receiving stolen property and two different counts, introduced the Northampton County district legal professional on Thursday.
Authorities allege the 44-year-old ordered cell telephones from the town’s account, as a part of his position in distributing cell telephones to metropolis staff, however as an alternative of distributing them, he resold them and pocketed the money.
Paperwork present he offered a complete of 31 metropolis cell telephones between 2019 and April 2022, for a complete of $12,630, the DA stated.
Sivak additionally admitted to ordering different electronics, price about $2,500, from the town’s Verizon account, and maintaining them for himself, the DA stated. These objects included VR headsets, a speaker, an iPhone and extra.
The investigation began in January of this yr when the town controller observed uncommon exercise in a city-owned checking account, and finally discovered withdrawals from the town account into Sivak’s private checking account. Sivak initially advised police he sells used electronics and has the third-party reseller ship funds to the town’s PayPal to keep away from paying taxes on these objects.
Additional investigation uncovered the cell telephones have been ordered from the town’s account, officers stated.
The mayor’s workplace launched an announcement after the fees have been introduced Thursday.
“…I’m not certain how Mr. Sivak slept at evening,” the assertion stated, partly. “We’re offended within the Mayor’s Workplace, however we have now solely been right here just a few months. Amongst Metropolis Corridor staff who’ve labored with him for years, the violation of belief and stage of anger is way greater.”
Mayor J. William Reynolds took workplace in January. He stated his workplace has and can proceed to assist in the investigation.
Sivak turned himself into police. His bail is about at $25,000 unsecured.
A preliminary listening to is about for June 22. He faces greater than 20 years in jail, in accordance with the DA.
In line with his public LinkedIn web page, Sivak had labored as the town’s Finance Director since March 2007.