Former Covelli food vendor charged with embezzlement

YOUNGSTOWN

The former general manager of the Covelli Centre’s food and drink vendor is in hot water, charged with embezzling money from the company for more than two years.

But the felony theft count is not Mark P. Daigle’s only legal problem.

Police are also investigating whether Daigle, 38, of Steeplechase Drive in Canfield, and a former local official for the vendor — formerly known as Boston Culinary, and now Centerplate after the latter purchased it — staged a Jan. 26 aggravated robbery to cover up the embezzlement.

A warrant is out for the arrest of Centerplate’s former office manager Kathy Lewis, 40, of Karl Street in Youngstown, charging her with theft, according to the Youngstown clerk of court’s office.

Lewis was the supposed victim in the robbery in which about $90,000 was stolen at the arena about 9:15 a.m. Jan. 26.

At the time of the robbery, police and Covelli Centre officials said they suspected the robbery was an “inside job.”

“I’m certainly not shocked; when it went down I was very suspicious,” said Eric Ryan, the center’s executive director.

Also, officials with the city and the center’s management company are in discussions with Centerplate to cut ties or to amend the contract to allow other vendors to sell food and drinks at the facility.

Daigle was arraigned Friday in Youngstown Municipal Court on the felony theft count. He is free on $10,000 bond with a preliminary hearing scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Centerplate has fired Daigle and Lewis, according to police.

Police Capt. Rod Foley, the chief of detectives, didn’t respond to several requests this week by The Vindicator to discuss the case.

For the full story, read Saturday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.