A former tax collector facing embezzlement accusations has been charged with DUI for a second time since June.
The Express-Times reports that Steven M. Black, a former Pen Argyl tax collector, has been arrested for drunken driving twice since being indicted for embezzling $40,000 from the Pen Argyl borough and school district while collecting taxes for the entities.
Possible DUI Penalties
Black faces harsh DUI penalties if convicted of both drunk driving charges, a Northampton County District Attorney prosecutor told the newspaper. The former tax collector would face a mandatory minimum of six months in jail; he could be sentenced for up to five years in prison for the second of the two DUI allegations.
According to the Express-Times, Black resigned his job in June, three days after police found him face down at Bushkill Township's Jacobsburg Environmental Center, about 15 miles northeast of Allentown.
In Pennsylvania, conviction on a charge of embezzlement of any amount over $2,000 carries with it a possible prison sentence of up to seven years.
Tracking the White Collar Crimes
According to istockanalyst.com, an auditor's report indicates that Black took money from the school district accounts and then shifted borough monies to cover the shortfall. He is then alleged to have reversed the process to cover the subsequent shortfall in borough accounts.
Black was in charge of collecting taxpayer checks, depositing them and keeping track of accounts for the school district and borough.
Black's first DUI occurred the morning after being confronted about financial irregularities in Pen Argyl.
According to reports, Black admitted the embezzlement to police. He was arrested in early October on theft charges.
Before Talking to Police
Anyone facing theft or DUI charges should immediately contact a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney before making any statements to police. A criminal defense lawyer helps you understand your rights and your legal options so that you can make informed decisions and fight for your freedom.
