Ford DT466 Pulling Truck for Sale
- Thread starter Dieselchic76
- Start date
Diesel Dummy
D-Maxin
Yeah she lost he job alright, if anybody who ever met the Dano's they are nice people to know, but the story needs to be set straight on the sale of this truck and how it was funded, im not here to start a big ordeal but it was wrong very wrong on what was done to get it to where it was. This is all public information now so i dont know anymore than than the next guy, just read on here.
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100420/NEWS04/304209966
so your saying that it will be on the auction block soon? FOR CHEAP!!
wideopen
Slum Lord
This is Public information. Please no User bashing!
Dalpilot
Joe Nobody!
Ex-clerk embezzled $927,000
FEDERAL COURT PLEA: Wagner-Dano admits to thefts involving two dairy co-ops and town of Lewis
By DAVID WINTERS & STEVE VIRKLER
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010
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A former Lewis town clerk and dairy cooperative bookkeeper confessed Monday in federal court to embezzling money from the town and two cooperatives.
Melissa L. Wagner-Dano, 33, Fish Creek Road, West Leyden, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, before Chief Judge Norman A. Mordue to wire fraud, federal court documents show. She could receive up to 20 years in federal prison at her sentencing Aug. 16.
Federal prosecutors said the losses were estimated at about $927,000 to three groups: the Oneida-Lewis Milk Producers Cooperative ($642,540.67), the Boonville Farm Cooperative ($33,861) and the town of Lewis ($250,614.67).
No other suspects are being investigated in the case, prosecutors said.
"These were not large organizations," Assistant U.S. attorney Edward R. Broton said. "There was a significant financial hit to them as a result of this."
Defense attorney George F. Hildebrandt, representing Ms. Wagner-Dano, told the court he needed some time to confirm those figures before agreeing to a restitution amount, Mr. Broton said.
The defendant hasn't repaid any money yet, and it's unknown what the stolen funds were used for, he said.
Ms. Wagner-Dano, 33, Fish Creek Road, formerly worked as a bookkeeper for the Oneida-Lewis Milk Producers Cooperative and the Boonville Farm Cooperative. She was appointed town bookkeeper in 1998 and was elected town clerk in 2000.
While Ms. Wagner-Dano chose not to run for re-election in 2005 to seek the District 10 seat on the Lewis County Legislature, she continued to serve as town bookkeeper.
She defrauded the town and dairy cooperatives from Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 1, 2009, court records show.
The case stems from a nearly half-year probe by the U.S. attorney's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"It's unfortunate for our farmers that this happened," said Michael Kraeger, president of the 18-farm Oneida-Lewis cooperative, noting that low milk prices are making it tough enough for farmers without additional shortfalls. "We hope we can gain some restitution."
Mr. Kraeger said his wife, Lisa, an accountant, has taken over the cooperative's bookkeeping duties, helping to conduct an internal investigation and bring the organization back "on our feet."
Michele E. Ledoux, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County, said her agency has offered to assist affected dairies with financial planning, as is available to any county farmer. State Department of Agriculture and Markets officials have indicated they could provide some form of assistance to the cooperative, but only after completion of the federal investigation.
Mr. Broton said cases like this occur "usually because of a lack of checks and balances at an organization."
Ms. Wagner-Dano in April 2009 set up an Intuit Quick Books payroll program for the town and, using fictitious payroll accounts, transferred money from the town's account to the dairy cooperatives' accounts, then withdrew that money, the U.S. attorney's office alleges. She allegedly wrote checks from the Oneida-Lewis Milk Producers Cooperative payable to Melissa Dano and signed them as Melissa Wagner.
In May, she made a wire transfer of $29,996.01 from the town to the Oneida-Lewis cooperative through Intuit computer servers in Reno, Nev., leading to the wire fraud charge, court documents state.
In a letter dated Oct. 29, she told the Boonville Farm Cooperative board of directors that the "unauthorized transfers" from its bank account happened because her computer system crashed, according to court documents.
Ms. Wagner-Dano "well knew her computer did not crash and the unauthorized fraudulent transfers were knowingly and intentionally made by her," according to court papers.
Judge Mordue released her on several conditions, including that she not travel outside the Northern District of New York without court approval.
The Boonville cooperative has 39 farms in Oneida, Lewis and Herkimer counties, while the town of Lewis has about 800 residents.
Mr. Hildebrandt and Lewis Town Supervisor Dawn M. Zagurski could not be reached for comment Monday.
FEDERAL COURT PLEA: Wagner-Dano admits to thefts involving two dairy co-ops and town of Lewis
By DAVID WINTERS & STEVE VIRKLER
TIMES STAFF WRITERS
TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2010
ARTICLE OPTIONS
A A A
print this article
e-mail this article
A former Lewis town clerk and dairy cooperative bookkeeper confessed Monday in federal court to embezzling money from the town and two cooperatives.
Melissa L. Wagner-Dano, 33, Fish Creek Road, West Leyden, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, before Chief Judge Norman A. Mordue to wire fraud, federal court documents show. She could receive up to 20 years in federal prison at her sentencing Aug. 16.
Federal prosecutors said the losses were estimated at about $927,000 to three groups: the Oneida-Lewis Milk Producers Cooperative ($642,540.67), the Boonville Farm Cooperative ($33,861) and the town of Lewis ($250,614.67).
No other suspects are being investigated in the case, prosecutors said.
"These were not large organizations," Assistant U.S. attorney Edward R. Broton said. "There was a significant financial hit to them as a result of this."
Defense attorney George F. Hildebrandt, representing Ms. Wagner-Dano, told the court he needed some time to confirm those figures before agreeing to a restitution amount, Mr. Broton said.
The defendant hasn't repaid any money yet, and it's unknown what the stolen funds were used for, he said.
Ms. Wagner-Dano, 33, Fish Creek Road, formerly worked as a bookkeeper for the Oneida-Lewis Milk Producers Cooperative and the Boonville Farm Cooperative. She was appointed town bookkeeper in 1998 and was elected town clerk in 2000.
While Ms. Wagner-Dano chose not to run for re-election in 2005 to seek the District 10 seat on the Lewis County Legislature, she continued to serve as town bookkeeper.
She defrauded the town and dairy cooperatives from Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 1, 2009, court records show.
The case stems from a nearly half-year probe by the U.S. attorney's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"It's unfortunate for our farmers that this happened," said Michael Kraeger, president of the 18-farm Oneida-Lewis cooperative, noting that low milk prices are making it tough enough for farmers without additional shortfalls. "We hope we can gain some restitution."
Mr. Kraeger said his wife, Lisa, an accountant, has taken over the cooperative's bookkeeping duties, helping to conduct an internal investigation and bring the organization back "on our feet."
Michele E. Ledoux, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County, said her agency has offered to assist affected dairies with financial planning, as is available to any county farmer. State Department of Agriculture and Markets officials have indicated they could provide some form of assistance to the cooperative, but only after completion of the federal investigation.
Mr. Broton said cases like this occur "usually because of a lack of checks and balances at an organization."
Ms. Wagner-Dano in April 2009 set up an Intuit Quick Books payroll program for the town and, using fictitious payroll accounts, transferred money from the town's account to the dairy cooperatives' accounts, then withdrew that money, the U.S. attorney's office alleges. She allegedly wrote checks from the Oneida-Lewis Milk Producers Cooperative payable to Melissa Dano and signed them as Melissa Wagner.
In May, she made a wire transfer of $29,996.01 from the town to the Oneida-Lewis cooperative through Intuit computer servers in Reno, Nev., leading to the wire fraud charge, court documents state.
In a letter dated Oct. 29, she told the Boonville Farm Cooperative board of directors that the "unauthorized transfers" from its bank account happened because her computer system crashed, according to court documents.
Ms. Wagner-Dano "well knew her computer did not crash and the unauthorized fraudulent transfers were knowingly and intentionally made by her," according to court papers.
Judge Mordue released her on several conditions, including that she not travel outside the Northern District of New York without court approval.
The Boonville cooperative has 39 farms in Oneida, Lewis and Herkimer counties, while the town of Lewis has about 800 residents.
Mr. Hildebrandt and Lewis Town Supervisor Dawn M. Zagurski could not be reached for comment Monday.
Signature600
THA MAN!
So that's how I'm supposed to build the truck I want....I've been doing it wrong
Just kidding...but that really does SUCK!
Chris
Just kidding...but that really does SUCK!
Chris
Diesel Dummy
D-Maxin
DIDNT THINK IT WAS USER BASHING!!! She stole from a bunch of farmers, come on!!!
RAWDOG chill out!!!! was no investigative reporting involved its been on our site for a while and you know it, just thought i would post it over here for some reading, you know them better than i do, i know you dont think it was right what was done!
rawdog
New member
yes you are correct that it was not right.and i am chill but i am at a loss for words when thinking of why this was relevant to the thread or why you would dredge the mess that she is in to this sight.nothing for nothing but go gossip this somewhere else.and by all means,i am not condoning what may or may not have been stolen but people do really stupid things and she is going to pay her dues.leave it at that.would it be right if someone posted a dwi or an arrest of someone else on here.i dont think so.and before you say "its not the same thing" it is except for the fact that a dwi or such is potentionaly killing someone.so think about not running someone in the dirt further because it could be you ,and you are a good guy,who could be on the other side of this post.
hesutton
Project Truck Guy
Diesel Dummy
D-Maxin
Might not have been relevent at all to this thread, this truck was " allegedly" built with money stolen from farmers and taxpayers! As far as the DWI im sure it would be posted on here if someone was drunk during a truck pull and got arrested for doing so, dont really wanna drag it through the dirt any more than it already is, but tell that to the countless newspapers that printed the story, it was wrong what she "allegedly" did and im sure she is paying the price for doing so. I did think about it, that's why i said it was public knowledge, it was so wrong in so many ways and im sure you would not be a happy camper if any amount of money was taken from you without your knowledge to "alledegedly" fund someones toy!! Now nothing was taken from me but as hard as it is nowadays to be a successful farmer it just Pisses me off that it was done at all, if that can not be understood by you or anyone, OH WELL!!!
hesutton
Project Truck Guy
I think it is relevent. Do you want to do business with someone who has done something like that to fund the said truck being sold? I certainly would not. Plus, it isn't really her truck to sell, it is the tax payers/farmers of the comunity she embezzled the money from.
Heath
Heath
Bosshawg600
PDP.com FireFighter
Auctualy it is relivent.......Ever head of Recieving Stolen Property? I dont think anyone wants to buy a Felony!!!!
Diesel Dummy
D-Maxin
Thanks D