Employee Hustles Small Town out of Thousands

Posted on May 16, 2022

Erin Hossler, the secretary/ treasurer of the Cressona Borough in Pennsylvania, was found guilty in federal court of tax evasion.

Hossler filed no tax returns in 2015, 2016 and 2017. During that time she stole funds from her employer by paying her personal bills online using the borough’s bank account, and by forging signatures on unauthorized checks made out to herself.

To cover her tracks she altered federal records and withheld payment of employment taxes for borough employees. She also altered an audit from an independent consulting firm to make it appear as if the firm approved of the borough’s finances.

Hossler was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $153,539 in restitution to the IRS. Prior to the federal case she was found guilty of embezzlement in state court and served 12 months in prison.