New Castle finance department investigated

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Lawrence County district attorney has confirmed he is investigating the possibility that city funds are missing.

District Attorney John Bongivengo said Tuesday that city police turned the investigation over to him Friday.

Bongivengo said an independent firm is doing a forensic audit on books in the city finance department.

He said he doesn’t know how long the audit will take.

No one has been charged at this point, he said.

Mayor Anthony Mastrangelo was unavailable to comment.

Police Chief Tom Sansone confirmed that a person who works in the city finance department has been suspended while the investigation continues.

He said an audit turned up the possible discrepancies.

Sansone said that Bongivengo will let him know if he decides to handle the investigation through his office. Bongivengo could also decide it would not be a conflict of interest for New Castle police to take the investigation back, Sansone said.

Bongivengo could also decide to ask the state police or the state attorney general’s office to investigate.