The new volunteer treasurer of a charity for police families in New York City discovered more than $400,000 had been embezzled from the organization. The former volunteer treasurer of Survivors of the Shield has been charged with theft.
Lorraine Shanley, 68, of Staten Island, N.Y., allegedly used the money for landscaping services, her son’s legal bills, concert tickets and other personal purchased. She had been the volunteer treasurer from 2010 through 2017.
She is charged with using the charity’s checks and a credit card her own personal gain, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York.
“Lorraine Shanley allegedly capitalized on tragedy and monetized people’s generosity. As alleged, Shanley stole over 20 percent of the donations to a charity whose sole mission is to help the families of NYPD officers killed in the line of duty,” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said via a statement.
The criminal complaint lists the following examples of Shanley’s spending: At least $45,000 in checks that were written either payable to family members, or made out to other people but which Shanley double endorsed and deposited into her own accounts; Paid approximately $29,000 for her grandchild’s private school tuition; Paid approximately $63,000 for legal services and expenses related to criminal charges against Shanley’s son; Paid approximately $32,000 for personal dental expenses and approximately $25,000 for landscaping on her personal residence; and, Purchased over $8,000 in event tickets, including over $1,400 for Barbara Streisand concert tickets.
Shanley, whose police officer husband died of a heart condition, faces up to 30 years in prison. She was released on a $100,000 bond.
