Man accused of stealing from Habitat dies in Cleveland Clinic

Staff report

STRUTHERS

A man who was accused of stealing $106,000 from Habitat for Humanity died Thursday, said a detective in the case.

Struthers Detective Jeff Pantall said he learned that Jack “Sonny” Bruno, 52, died at Cleveland Clinic.

Bruno, who was indicted by the Mahoning County grand jury in March on an aggravated theft charge in the Habitat case and also on six counts of burglary in house break-ins, had been postponing his arraignment on the charges for weeks because of health problems.

Pantall, who investigated the Habitat case because the charity’s headquarters are in Struthers, said Bruno worked for it for two to three years as a contractor.

In May 2010, Habitat told police it suspected Bruno was using a credit card for personal purchases.

Pantall said there were hundreds of suspicious transactions that included tools and materials. Bruno had his own construction company, he said.

The thefts took place between July 1, 2009, and June 7, 2010, the indictment said. Pantall said Habitat got $103,000 of the money back from insurance.