http://www.wnep.com/news/countybycounty/wnep-lacka-scr-theft-kevin-prasi,0,7771735.story

Man Charged With Stealing Thousands From Employer



A man in Lackawanna County is accused of ripping off more than $300,000 from his employer.

Investigators said he did this to feed his gambling problem.

Kevin Prasi, 28, of Clark's Summit handled the finances at Vullo motors in Scranton. Prasi told investigators, he had a serious gambling addiction.

Investigators said he stole more than $300,000 from his former employer.

Prasi worked at Vullo motors in Scranton, as the finance manager.

Investigators said he stole the money by selling vehicles and not reporting the sales to the dealership. He pocketed nearly $80,000 doing that.

Prasi would also take out fake loans, and keep that money for himself, which was another $80,000.

"On cars that were sold from Vullo motors, that were repossessed, he would then resell them, and then not use the proceeds to pay the loan off, he would keep that money for himself," said District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge of Lackawanna County.

Investigators said Prasi did this for almost a year, until Vullo owners confronted him about it.

In court papers Prasi admitted to stealing the money and said it was his gambling illness that led him to do it.

He even worked out a deal to try to pay all the money back.

He began paying $300 a week until last month. He stopped because he didn't have a job, and he said he couldn't afford the payments. To date, Prasi has only paid back about $5,000.

Owners said Prasi worked for them for several years, they treated him like family, and this is all too disappointing.

"You never want to think that this could happen to a business, surely in this economy it's affected their bottom line, and ultimately I think that's what led them to the discovery is the numbers just weren't adding up," said District Attorney McCambridge.

Prasi is charged with seven counts of theft, and seven counts of receiving stolen property.

He is out on bail.