Advertisement

Francis H. Higgins, former bingo chairman of the Lions Club was charged with embezzlement $1000 to $20,000 in 73rd District Court and is scheduled for arraignment in Sanilac County Circuit Court on Oct. 6.

Several members of the Lions Club went to Sgt. Kirk Sasinowski of the Lexington Police Department in May. They told Sasinowski one of the members admitted he embezzled funds from the Lions.

The Lions first became aware of the problem when they were contacted by the Bureau of State Lottery Charitable Gaming Division. The state agency said they had found nine violations that totaled $10,746 when they audited the bingo account. In addition, the state indicated it would audit the club, and the president and treasurer could face charges through the state.

Higgins told police he stopped the alleged embezzlement when the state auditor found suspicious activity in the bingo account. He resigned in May after meeting with several club members. He estimated he had stolen $4000 to $5000 from the club.

Higgins told police he had allegedly written several illegal checks, in addition to forging the club chairman's name on checks that required two signatures. The bank found 21 forged checks worth a total of $4,573

He wrote checks to his wife, to his business and overpaid himself as chairman. The checking account can only be used for bingo supplies and to pay out large winnings. The Michigan Service Compensation Schedule says the chairman may only be paid $50 per occasion, however Higgins allegedly paid himself by cash or check between $75 and $200.

Higgins told Sasinowski he allegedly started to write checks for his personal use last fall in order to pay bills, however, according to the records it may have been as early as the summer of 2006.

He said his wife was not involved and he told her he got a side job to explain about the money. Higgins reported he planned to pay the money back when he got his income tax refund, but there wasn't enough to cover it.

Higgins was bingo chairman for about three years.