Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
The Attorney General for the State of New Jersey has filed suit to recover two SUVs allegedly purchased with funds stolen by the treasurer of a volunteer fire department.
The strange story began last February when State Police charged Lisa Ayers, 39, with stealing more than $75,000 from the Mine Hill Volunteer Fire Department. The thefts are believed to have occurred over the past two years while Ayers served as treasurer.
The investigation revealed that stolen funds were used in part to finance two SUVs, one registered to Ayers and the other registered to her husband, who at the time was Mine Hill’s fire chief. State Police seized the vehicles when they arrested Ayers.
No charges have been brought against Chief Ayers, who subsequently resigned. The AG’s suit was filed today in Superior Court in Morristown. It asks the court to order the forfeiture of the Ayers’ interest in both vehicles
The Daily Record is reporting that among things that Ayer’s did was obtain an unauthorized $44,000 mortgage on the fire station, pay her own personal bills with fire department funds, and write department checks payable to cash.
