Former Platte County Rural Fire District board member charged with theft of $237,000

Posted 8/3/17

Former Platte County Rural Fire District 1F board member Donald Moede has allegedly embezzled more than $237,000 throughout the course of his last four years in office.

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Former Platte County Rural Fire District board member charged with theft of $237,000

Posted

By Jacob Hamel | Editor

WHEATLAND — According to an 81-count indictment filed through the Platte County Circuit Court, former Platte County Rural Fire District 1F board member Donald Moede has allegedly embezzled more than $237,000 throughout the course of his last four years in office.

A newly elected first district board member reported the missing funds to the Platte County Attorney's Office, who then asked the Department of Criminal Investigations to investigate a suspected theft of the funds.

According to a criminal investigation report filed by a DCI agent, Moede allegedly withdrew $237,000 from the fire district’s bank account to write personal checks for himself, as well as to pay for several personal credit cards.

The agent investigated the district’s bank records from as early as May 10, 2012 to Oct. 24, 2016. He

The 81-count indictment includes 21 counts of larceny by bailee or public official, 13 of which being felonies and the other eight being misdemeanors. The other 60 counts are for theft, nine of which being misdemeanors and 51 being felonies.

The counts classified as misdemeanors are each punishable of up to six months of imprisonment, a $750 fine, or both. Whereas, the counts classified as felonies are each punishable of up to 10 years of imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, or both.

If convicted on all counts, Moede could face a sentence of up to 648.5 years of imprisonment, as well as up to a $76,750 fine.

Moede’s initial hearing of the charges was held on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m in Wheatland.

Judge Scott Cole set Moede’s bond at $250,000, and Moede put down $25,000 to bond out. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. on September 18.