Belvedere firefighter charged with stealing more than $38,000 from the fire company
A 22-year-old firefighter has been charged with embezzling more than $38,000 from Belvedere Volunteer Fire Company.
Tyree N. Williams was authorizing paychecks to former Belvedere employees, but depositing that money in his bank accounts, according to court documents obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal.
Williams, who faces two felonies and one misdemeanor, is scheduled to have his preliminary hearing on Thursday, Feb. 1, in the Court of Common Pleas. The Belvedere fire company did not immediately respond to a request on Monday seeking comment.
What is Williams accused of?
During an audit of the fire company's finances, Belvedere officials discovered more than $38,000 of unauthorized funds had been funneled through its payroll, according to court documents. The incidents occurred during the second half of 2023.
The audit showed that two former fire company employees, who were not working for Belvedere during these final months of the year, were paid during this time period, the court documents said.
Delaware State Police investigators were contacted soon after.
Through their investigation, police learned Williams was assigned to the fire company's payroll during the second half of 2023. They also learned, according to court documents, that he had made changes to the payroll system concerning the two former employees.
Essentially, court documents claim Williams was creating checks for the former employees and depositing these checks in his bank accounts at Del-One Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo Bank.
Williams was charged with misuse of computer systems to steal more than $10,000, theft and falsifying business records. He was released on his own recognizance.
Review group forming
This is the second time this month that a former Belvedere fire company member has made headlines. Last week, a jury found a Belvedere deputy fire chief guilty of raping a 15-year-old girl.
Dwayne L. Pearson Jr., 40, has not been sentenced, but his conviction resulted in leadership of the New Castle County fire services to issue a statement condemning Pearson's acts and saying they are establishing a working group that will review policies, procedures and laws governing misconduct by fire services members. The group will also review requirements for membership, employment and best practices related to acts that could bring these departments into disrepute.
"We want to assure the public that the dominant conversations taking place in our stations tonight is the revulsion that our firefighters and [emergency medical technicians] feel towards the actions of this individual and the sympathy we hold for the victim and her family," said the release signed by the leaders of the New Castle County Firefighters Association, New Castle County Fire Chief Association and New Castle County Fire and Ambulance Advisory Board.
Denis E. Godek, chair of the Fire and Ambulance Advisory Board, said he and the groups' other leaders hope to meet by the end of this week to confirm members of the working group. The group will consist of fire service people and outside organizations.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Firefighter charged with stealing $38,000 from Belvedere fire company
