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Kenneth J. Long of the Birdsboro Union Fire Department is charged with theft, forgery, and related counts and surrendered to detectives on Monday, Aug. 14, the Berks District Attorney's Office said.
The 61-year-old came under investigation in January, when firefighters reported "more than $500,000" were missing from the department's accounts, authorities said.
He was interviewed by detectives in February when he allegedly admitted to "utilizing fire company funds to support his gambling habit" and forging the names of his colleagues on treasurer's reports to cover his tracks, the DA's Office said.
A forensic accounting audit completed last week found that Long stole a total of $899,968.36 from multiple accounts between 2016 and 2023, according to prosecutors.
As of Monday, Long awaits arraignment at the Berks County Sheriff’s Department Central Processing Center.
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