Pennsylvania Treasurer Convicted, Gambled Public Funds

Former Uniontown, Pennsylvania, city treasurer Antoinette Hodge, 54, has been convicted of embezzlement after spending $106k in public funds on the lottery. 

She spent $1.5k per day on the habit. 

In other Pennsylvania-related news, a casino in the state was fined for letting self-excluded players keep playing in October. 

Additional Details

Hodge is also accused of stealing another $112,484 from the Youghiogheny Western Baptist Association and will face trial on forgery charges next month. 

On Nov. 7, a Fayette County judge found Hodge guilty of unlawful taking, obstructing the administration of law or other government functions, and receiving stolen property. 

Mayor and Attorney General Speak Out

In her role, Hodge was responsible for collecting and depositing cash and checks the tax office received. From 2020 to 2021, she failed to deposit the $106k. She used it on gambling, vacations, and the lottery. 

“The defendant was elected to a position of trust in her community. She abused that trust and defrauded taxpayers for her own gain,” Attorney General Henry said. “Prosecuting these crimes is vital to maintaining the integrity of local government. My office will continue to protect taxpayers and ensure that any individual who tries to abuse their position will face the consequences of their actions.”

A grand jury indicted her in December 2022, and she ran for reelection in May 2023 in the Democratic primary but lost the nomination. 

She left office after her term expired last year. 

“At city hall, we stopped accepting cash payments, we only take checks or money orders now,” Uniontown Mayor Bill Gerke said to The Herald-Standard. “And that is one of many things we’ve done to make sure something like this doesn’t happen down the road.”

Association Facing Financial Problems

Hodge will be sentenced on Nov. 21 and back in court next month, facing 33 counts of forgery and three counts of theft relating to the Youghiogheny Western Baptist Association. 

Prosecutors in the case claim Hodge failed to pay bills or real estate taxes on behalf of the Association. 

Additionally, she forged the signatures of organization members authorized to sign checks and made them out to “cash.” 

According to Fayette County DA Richard Bower, her actions left the Association in financial distress.