Tuesday, April 24, 2007
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Boardman man accused of using a Croatian club name to get and use a credit card for thousands of dollars' worth of personal purchases has been ordered to make restitution and serve two years' probation.
John J. Seeco, 57, of Eisenhower Drive, pleaded guilty in February to three counts of misuse of a credit card, all fifth-degree felonies.
Authorities said he used the name of the St. George Lodge 66, Croatian Fraternal Union, where he had been a member for several decades, as a guarantor on a credit-card application and had the bill sent to his home, rather than the club.
Seeco charged various personal items and travel expenses on the card and didn't pay off the debts, authorities said. He was club president at the time and resigned in February after questions arose about club finances.
He also had served as host of "The Croatian Hour" radio program on Sundays for about 20 years but was replaced in February as a result of the club's finance investigation.
Seeco appeared before Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court last week for sentencing and was ordered to spend two years' probation, supervised by the Adult Parole Authority, pay 1,500 in fines within two years and make immediate restitution to the club in the amount of 26,000.
If he violates the terms of the community control sanction, he could face a three-year prison sentence, the judge said.