Feb 15, 2006 11:30 am US/Central
Woman Steals From Nonprofit, Gambles Away Money
St. Paul (WCCO) ―
The treasurer of a Minnesota nonprofit organization is accused of stealing more than $200,000 from the group, which she then used to gamble at Mystic Lake Casino, prosecutors said.
Pa P. Vang, 34, of St. Paul, was charged Tuesday with felony theft.
Vang became a member of the board of directors for Asian Women United of Minnesota (AWUM) in 2003 and she became the treasurer in March 2005.
Investigators said Vang had control of the finances of AWUM. AWUM is required by law to have a financial audit and during that audit, an accountant found questionable transactions between May 2004 and December 2004, the criminal complaint said.
The audit also found Vang had opened four bank accounts in the name of AWUM and had the statements mailed to her at work to avoid detection, prosecutors said.
Vang then transferred money from the AWUM's main bank account to the ones she opened, investigators said.
The total amount of the questionable transactions was $265,864.13.
Vang admitted to police she stole about $200,000 from AWUM and used the money to gamble at Mystic Lake Casino. Vang told police all of the money had been lost.
If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.
AWUM is a group that aims to end violence among Asian women, its Web site said. The nonprofit also operates a shelter and most of its money comes from federal grants.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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