CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — The former director of Veterans Affairs for Charlevoix County has been charged with embezzlement for allegedly using vouchers that were intended for veterans.
Joshua Galle, of Petoskey, has been charged on 27 felony counts of embezzlement by a public official.
On Feb. 5, 2024, Kaylee Wells, the current director of Veterans Affairs for the county, met with detective Fred Hasty regarding alleged misconduct by Galle, according to an affidavit sent by Charlevoix County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher “Kit” Tholen.
The affidavit states that during his time as director, Galle had the authority to disburse vouchers to veterans what could be exchanged for $50 worth of items at Meijer stores.
Wells provided detective Hasty with a spreadsheet containing information about the distribution of the vouchers.
The spreadsheet showed that a voucher appeared to have been distributed to a veteran named William Stokes in 2022. Stokes died in November 2021, the affidavit states.
Detective Hasty met with Meijer Fraud Investigator Joseph Boyle who showed that a voucher distributed to Stokes had been used at the Petoskey Meijer on July 16, 2022, according to the affidavit.
The spreadsheet provided by Wells also shows that 27 vouchers were issued by Galle between Feb. and Sept. of 2022.
In total, it is alleged that Galle allegedly provided vouchers to the following veterans:
- Frank Wvglendowski
- Duane Vorce
- William Hart
- “William G”
- Robert Baker
- David Boseley
- Donald Murphy
- Paul Lantz
- Jon Kiernan
- Alvin Bates k. Michael Trixier
- Kevin Robinson
- Maurice Murphy
- Harold Brooks
- William Stokes
- James Carrow
- Gerald Evans
- Brian Darrah
- Kenneth Villermain
- Joseph Vultaggio
- Kenneth Liskie
- Jerry Vankuiken
- Raymond Ard
- Donald Clemmer
- Logan McArthur
- Charles Scherping
- James Stieber
Detective Hasty stated that two of the individuals issued the vouchers, Stokes and William Hart, were deceased prior to the time Galle allegedly provided vouchers for them.
Detective Hasty reported that he met with all of the individuals listed above, with the exception of one man who has “significant mental issues,” the affidavit states. Hasty met with family members of Stokes and Hart.
“Detective Hasty states that every one of these individuals—or their family members— asserted that the person listed by GALLE as have been given a voucher had never been given a voucher,” the affidavit states [emphasis in original].
Detective Hasty also stated that everyone he spoke with was unaware of the voucher program.
A conviction of embezzlement by a public official carries a potential sentence of 10 years or $5,000.
This article was originally published by a upnorthlive.com . Read the Original article here. .