ANNE: THE GRAND JURY FOUND ATTH JOHN BURKHART USED HIS POSITNIO TO STEAL MONEY. AND DEPOSIT IT INTO HIS PERSONAL COUNT.AC BURKHART HEADED THE DRUG TASK FORCE FROM 2011,UNTIL HEAS W FIRED IN 2020 THIS IS VIDEOFO BURKHART SHOWING NEWS 8 SEIZED EVIDENCE. THE GRAND JURY FOUND THAT DURING ABOUT FIA VE YEAR SPAN BURKHART STOLE ABOUT $150,000 IN SEIZED CASH FROM THE DRUG TASK FORCE’S SAFE. HE ALSO POCKETED AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 SBYKIMMING MONEY OFF OF DEPOSITS BEFORE THE TREASURRE COULD UNCOT IT. LANCASTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY HEATHER ADAMS ANNOUEDNC IN JUNE OF 2020 THAT MONEY THAT HA D BEEN SEIZED IN DRUG CASES WAS MISSING. HERE’S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY THEN. >> THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO SAY THIS AND I AM NOT GOING TO DIMINISH HIS IMPORTANCE. THIS APPEARS IN EVERY ASPECT TO BE AN INTEALRN THEFT, BUT WE MUST AWAIT THE COMPLETE IN VESTIGATION. ANNE: THE GRAND JURY REPORT CONCLUDES JOHN BURKHART ABUSED HIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO SCAM AND DEFRAUD THE CITIZENS OF LANCASTER COUNTY AND THE LANCASTER COUNTY DRUG SKTA FORCE OUT OF DESPERATELY NEEDED NDS.FU BURKHART WAS ARRAIGNED TODAY. AND IS NOW AWAITING HIS PRELIMINARY HEAR
Former head of Lancaster County Drug Task Force charged with stealing $200K
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Updated: 7:54 AM EDT Mar 16, 2022
The former head of the Lancaster County Drug Task Force is charged with stealing more than $200,000 from the agency from 2015 to 2020.Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges against John Burkhart.Shapiro said Tuesday that a grand jury found Burkhart repeatedly stole money that had been seized during drug investigations.Burkhart allegedly stole $150,000 in seized cash from the drug task force safe, where seized money was stored before it was formally forfeited and placed in a bank account. The grand jury learned Burkhart had nearly exclusive control of the safe and its contents.Burkhart is also accused of taking an additional $50,000 by skimming money off deposits before they could be recorded by the treasurer."Mr. Burkhart abused his position of public trust to scam and defraud the citizens of Lancaster County and the Lancaster County Drug Task Force out of desperately needed funds," Shapiro said in a news release.Burkhart was arrested and faces charges that include theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft by deception and forgery.
The former head of the Lancaster County Drug Task Force is charged with stealing more than $200,000 from the agency from 2015 to 2020.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the charges against John Burkhart.
Shapiro said Tuesday that a grand jury found Burkhart repeatedly stole money that had been seized during drug investigations.
Burkhart allegedly stole $150,000 in seized cash from the drug task force safe, where seized money was stored before it was formally forfeited and placed in a bank account. The grand jury learned Burkhart had nearly exclusive control of the safe and its contents.
Burkhart is also accused of taking an additional $50,000 by skimming money off deposits before they could be recorded by the treasurer.
"Mr. Burkhart abused his position of public trust to scam and defraud the citizens of Lancaster County and the Lancaster County Drug Task Force out of desperately needed funds," Shapiro said in a news release.
Burkhart was arrested and faces charges that include theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft by deception and forgery.
