ELMHURST — The deceased treasurer of a civic group is being accused of pilfering more than $19,000 — and the group used the latest issue of its newsletter to announce the alleged heist.
In the March-April issue of the "Newtown Crier," the board members of the Newtown Civic Association accuse its former treasurer, Robert Valdes Clausell, of withdrawing cash that belonged to the group.
"Our treasurer for 10 years gave glowing reports on our monies at each of our monthly meetings," the board wrote in an article under the headline "NCA Ripped Off."
But after Clausell's January death in a single-car accident on Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst, the board looked at its account and found that most of the money — more than $19,000 — was missing, according to the group and its latest filing with the state Attorney General's office.
"The board of directors is mortified to say the least over this," the board wrote, adding that it currently only has $15 in its savings account and $800 in its checking account.
Board members said they have proof that Clausell withdrew $5,200 in cash over two years from the checking account, and they're trying to figure out what happened to the rest of the money.
They hope to have more information at the group's monthly meeting on March 21, they wrote.
Relatives or representatives of Clausell's estate could not be reached for comment.
An official with the state Attorney General's office said the group indicated on its most recent IRS forms that it was exempt from registering with the office. Sources said board members are investigating if this is true.
The last 990 tax filing on record for the group is from 2012, when Clausell reported that the group started the year with $19,793 and ended up with $18,551 after paying for rent, circulating the Newtown Crier and other fees, according to documents on the nonprofit tax filings public website Guidestar.
Clausell had been in an ongoing legal battle with the board of an Elmhurst co-op that accused him of "grossly negligent" conduct during his time as director there in which he led the board into bankruptcy, according to legal documents. He had been ordered by a judge to pay the co-op more than $224,000.
The Newtown Civic Association formed in the 1970s to advocate for Elmhurst.
Emails to the group were not immediately returned.
