Monday, November 30, 2015

ARFF Training Officer admits he stole from orphans

Al Schaffer





TAMPA, Fla. -- In May, we confronted Tampa Fire Captain, Al Schaffer who -- according to IRS records -- had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the IRS.

"These are orphans and abused children. I have to say I'm offended," we told Schaffer who responded, "And I'm sorry you're offended but I'm not going to comment on that, Sir."

Schafer may not have had a comment for us in May but a federal plea deal he signed this past week provides irrefutable proof that money donated to the Hope Children's Home for these orphans ended up in his pocket.

"What he did was totally unacceptable," Kirk Eicholtz told us. Eicholtz who was appointed by the court as interim CEO when the money came up missing adds, "from Hope Children's home perspective, we are happy this chapter in this book is closed.

In the plea, Schaffer admits he doubled his salary as treasurer'. He wrote checks from the Children's Home bank account to pay his personal credit card at Citibank and American express; and he embezzled at least $187,000. IRS records say the exact number is actually several thousand more that that.

We said to Eicholtz,"He faces the possibility of jail time, do you think it is appropriate here?

Eicholtz responded "That's not for me to be the judge and jury, but I do know restitution is paramount."

And while Al Schaffer is still a member of Tampa Fire Department the Chief promised if this day ever came and there was 100 percent proof Schaffer stole the money, he wouldn't be a member of the department for very long.

"if I get anything that has merit from those regulatory agencies, then I've got a problem here, " Tampa Fire Chief Tom Forward told us in May, "You know this person is no longer suitable to wear the uniform of the City of Tampa's Fire Department."

In the meantime, Eicholtz says it was only after Schaffer refused to repay the money, that the board turned to law enforcement

That's what breaks a person's heart because if he had just followed the reconciliation process of some sort he wouldn't be in the mess he is in now."

Schaffer who used two sets of books, could face 20 years in prison , a $374,000 fine and must pay restitution. He was not at the fire station when we got there Monday and his attorney said it wouldn't be appropriate to comment.

According to the plea, he broke down emotionally when talking to the feds. He is scheduled to makes his first appearance in Federal Court sometime this week.


Story, video and photo: http://www.wtsp.com

TAMPA — The Hope Children’s Home in Northwest Tampa houses 75 children, described on its website as “discarded, abused, unwanted or orphaned.”

The home, which is biblically based, is funded through donations from churches, clubs, organizations and individuals.

The money is supposed to go toward caring for and schooling abused and neglected children, some of whose pictures and statements of thanks are also on the website.

But for five years, Alfred Schaffer, the son of the founder, embezzled more than $187,000 from the home, through the access he had in his side job as the home’s business manager and chief financial officer, according to federal court documents.

As a Tampa fire captain, Schaffer is paid nearly $80,000 a year by the city, according to city records. He was hired by the department in 1995.

Department spokesman Jason Penny said Schaffer is an airport training officer, responsible for keeping firefighters trained in aircraft rescue and fire fighting.

Schaffer, 50, of Land O’ Lakes, has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of mail fraud, which carries up to 20 years in prison under the terms of a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court.

On Monday afternoon, Schaffer was suspended from his Tampa fire job after Chief Tom Forward learned of the plea agreement, Penny said.

“He is entitled to a disciplinary hearing but will not collect pay and will not return to work,” Penny said in a statement.

The children’s home has an affiliated home in Honduras and runs two thrift stores, one in Tampa and one in Clearwater.

Schaffer began his thefts in January 2007 and continued through October 2011, according to his plea agreement. He was paid $500 every other week. In 2007, his pay was transferred to him by direct deposit.

But Schaffer continued to pay himself the old way, meaning his pay was doubled, according to his plea agreement, which says Schaffer told a board member in 2011 that his embezzlement grew from there.

After learning of the thefts, officials at the home didn’t alert law enforcement but tried to arrange for Schaffer to repay the stolen money.

“The board members prayed and debated what to do about the scheme,” Schaffer’s plea agreement states. The home did not get the money back from Schaffer.

This summer, federal law enforcement agents contacted the home and obtained records documenting the scheme, the plea agreement states.

Agents determined Schaffer wrote checks to himself “rather than to the benefit of the children or the ministry,” according to the plea agreement. He was able to do this because he had a stamp with the signature of a board member.

He masked the transactions in financial statements he provided to the board.

The scheme involved more than 100 checks Schaffer wrote to his personal credit card accounts and to himself.

Officials at the home did not immediately return a message left Monday by The Tampa Tribune.

Story and comments:  http://www.tbo.com

5 comments:

  1. Greedy! Greedy! Greedy!

    The $80,000 salary, plus full benefits as a aircraft fire fighting instructor = wasn't enough.

    The $500 salary every other week for the side job = wasn't enough.

    He is concerned only with himself, and overlooks the needs of others.

    One has to wonder what other criminal activity is he involved in .... hmmm.

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  2. This Thief needs to be thrown in jail after taking his pension and assets . give them to the orphans he stole from

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  3. He didn't report any of the embezzled monies to the IRS as "income", so now the Internal Revenue Service immediately confiscates all real and personal property. Gone!

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  4. He's an arrogant thief! The charity gave him a choice to either reconcile the accounts, pay them back the money he stole from them or they would go to the police/detectives. He didn't repent or repay. So, now he's going to jail ..... for a very, very long time. Maybe the orphans will get his waterfront home, in addition to restitution.

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  5. This is why I only call people heroes when they do specific tangible heroic acts and not just because of the uniform they wear.

    This guy is a disgrace to the fire service. If he's willing to steal from sick little kids, how many times has he stolen from aircraft owners whose planes he was in? He has no business being a position of public trust.

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