UPDATED: Former RCAC Director Charged with Theft, Fraud
Vanessa DuVall is accused of embezzling money from the Oakmont senior center.
The former Riverview Community Action Corp. director is facing charges after allegedly embezzling money from the senior center.
The Allegheny County District Attorney has charged Vanessa DuVall, 37, of New Kensington with theft and access device fraud. Charges were filed at the office of Plum District Magistrate Linda Zucco on Wednesday.
According to the police report, DuVall is accused of embezzling at least $10,000 from the senior center, which is located on Second Street in Oakmont. A warant has been issued for her arrest. She is expected to turn herself in on Wednesday, according to the DA's office.
According to the police report, DuVall, who was hired at RCAC in 2004, doubled health insurance payments to herself, made deposits into her personal account, paid personal cell and utility bills, paid for a cruise and paid for a TV with RCAC funds from 2009 to 2011. DuVall was fired August 2011.
A preliminary hearing has yet to be scheduled.
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Paula A. Calabrese
9:03 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012
I've heard numerous rumors about this situation in the past few months, but could never get to the root of the story. It's about time that some public information is available to the community and to those of us who have contributed to this very worthy organization. Who was minding the store during the director's tenure? Where was the board? Where was the oversight? What a shame!
William DeTurck
7:58 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Were there audits? If not, why not? Who was the immediate supervisor? Who was chair of the board? Many interesting questions need answered?!?!?!? Senior citizens should be outraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Linda Webb
12:30 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Accused, not guilty. I imagine this goes much deeper than the "police reports" suggest.
Paula A. Calabrese
1:34 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012
Good point, Linda. However, rumors have been smoldering for a few months and it does make one wonder if there's fire behind the smoke. We certainly do need to go deeper than these initial reports.
Maryellen
3:01 am on Monday, September 3, 2012
I guess if she was the "director" any oversight would be minimal. If you look at their website, Adeline Brown is Chairman of the Board, I believe.
Maryellen
3:12 am on Monday, September 3, 2012
I just double checked the rcac website - rcacorp.org - and Adeline Brown is stil listed as President of the Board.
William DeTurck
8:02 am on Monday, September 3, 2012
Unfortunately, that listing is from June 2011. Also in that posting is a lengthy article on the need to request donations! The article was written by the former director herself!
Richard Williams
4:17 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
We must SuPPORT the organization RCAC! It helps so many people. We should let
the legal and political system deal with the accused and lack of oversight!
Tom Whalen
9:43 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
As a volunteer at RCAC I have learned that it is a great organization with a long history of service to Oakmont, Verona and surrounding communities. The current Executive Director and her hard working staff have a vision to make RCAC the centerpiece for services in our communities. As Richard Williams states let the legal and board processes address past issues and lets us support the ongoing work that RCAC does so well.