By Andrew Coen
Police estimate that more than $50,000 has been stolen from the facility, which is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.
Members of the Bureau of Special Operations and the Crimes Against Property Bureau arrested Anthony Savage, 41, of 3205 Seymour Ave. in the Bronx, and Brigette Barker, 35, of 65 Stewart Ave. in Hempstead Village, in connection with the alleged crimes.
"It was quite a shock," said Jonathan Davis, Five Towns Community Center executive director. "It is very upsetting."
Peter Visconti, associate executive director of the 5TCC, said that after community center officials noticed some of the lost funds in their records, they hired an independent forensic auditor, who helped police uncover Savage's and Barker's alleged crimes. "We moved quickly to deal with the situation," said Visconti. "We're happy the police moved quickly to get those responsible."
According to community center officials, although the agency has a $3.5 million budget, losing $50,000 is a major hit. "We struggle to [make] ends meet and keep our programs, and then this happens," said Visconti.
Davis said the agency has filed a claim with its insurance company, and officials hope to be reimbursed for most of the losses so that programs at the center are not affected.
Visconti, who has been with the community center for 35 years, pointed out that this is the first incident of this kind in the facility's century of operations, and that as a result of the arrests, procedures have been implemented to make sure it does not happen again. Community center officials said that administrators are planning to segregate duties at the facility to make sure all paperwork is adequately checked.
According to detectives, Savage, who was a bookkeeper for the center and was arrested May 17, falsified business records, issued checks for consultation services that were never provided and allegedly forged time sheets and consulting contracts and then pocketed the cash. Detectives added that Barker, who was arrested May 11, received payments in excess of her salary as a receptionist for the center and continued to receive checks after she was no longer employed. Police also said that Savage allegedly collected payments from the checks Barker received after she cashed them at a check-cashing business in Hempstead Village.
Savage was charged with second-degree grand larceny, two counts of second-degree forgery and first-degree falsifying of records. Barker was charged with second-degree possession of a forged instrument, third-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying of business records.
Detectives said the investigation is continuing, and additional arrests are expected. Attorneys representing Savage and Barker could not be reached for comment.
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