Former Lehigh Township firefighter admits to stealing $315K from firefighting nonprofit

A former Lehigh Township firefighter and police officer with the City of Allentown has admitted to stealing more than $315,000 from a firefighters fund.

Corey Cole, 42, of East Allen Township, pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony charges of theft and access device fraud by taking money from the Lehigh Township Fireman’s Relief Association’s fund.

Cole was charged in April with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, 211 counts of forgery, 165 counts of access device fraud, tampering with public records, all felony charges, and one misdemeanor charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Cole, who was treasurer of the relief fund, texted Travis Wuchter, the fund’s vice president, and admitted to stealing money. Wuchter also had a copy of a recent bank statement showing unauthorized purchases and personal bills paid by Cole.

Cole turned over all records from the relief fund and other fire department records and property to Lehigh Township police.

Police showed Wuchter and relief fund President John Hammel copies of checks that had Hammel and Cole’s signatures on them. Hammel said he never signed the checks, and Cole forged his signature.

An audit from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office showed Cole made unauthorized purchases, wrote checks to himself and paid bills from the relief fund without authorization.

The fake invoices spanned from Jan. 1, 2011, to Aug. 7, 2018.

Cole also faked invoices for equipment purchases. A check of an invoice number Cole provided for a purchase from Witmer Public Safety Group showed it actually belonged to a purchase made by another fire company.

The equipment listed on the invoice was also not in Lehigh Township’s possession.

Police did a forensic exam on Cole’s computer, which showed Cole had cleaned out the hard drive.

Cole admitted to police that he created fake invoices and bank statements to cover up unauthorized purchases. He also admitted to taking money through ATM withdrawals, writing checks to himself and paying personal bills with relief fund money.

Cole resigned from his position with the Allentown Police Department in August 2018, around the time the investigation into the missing Lehigh Township money began.

Relief fund money is used for a variety of purposes within fire companies, including for training, insurance, gear, equipment, survivor benefits and more.

Cole is expected to be sentenced in March.