Arnold fire department accuses former chief of misusing funds
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The former chief of Arnold’s No. 1 fire department is facing a civil claim against him by the department and is the subject of a criminal investigation.
In a civil complaint filed with New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr., the department says Brian Gouza owes $1,525 for advance death benefits he received inappropriately. A hearing is scheduled for April 4.
Melanie Jones, spokeswoman for Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, confirmed Thursday that Gouza is being investigated “regarding allegations of misappropriation of funds,” but she did not elaborate or say whether it is related to the department’s civil claim.
Gouza said Thursday he was unaware of the criminal investigation. He claimed his removal from the department in December over accusations of misuse of funds complicated his ability to make payments on what he owes.
“I have no problem paying it back,” Gouza said. “I have to get a chance to make payments.”
The department’s civil claim against Gouza relates to a 2022 state audit of the fire department’s relief association, which found it improperly paid nearly $5,000 in death benefits for members who had not died. The audit by the state Auditor General’s Office covered 2018 through 2020.
According to the civil claim, it was in about May 2018 that Gouza told the relief association’s board that he got confirmation from the Auditor General’s Office that the association was allowed to make advance death benefits available to members claiming hardships. Based on that claim, the board voted June 4, 2018, to pay Gouza $1,550.
It was after the state audit that “it was discovered that the information provided by Mr. Gouza was false,” the civil complaint states.
Four firefighters, including Gouza, received such payments, according to fire department spokesman Chris O’Leath, who signed the civil claim against Gouza.
Because the money had to be paid back immediately, the fire department made restitution to the relief association, and the members were paying back the fire department.
Of the other three, O’Leath said one has repaid the money in full while the other two are making payments. One of those is expected to be fully paid within the next month or so.
The claim says Gouza made only one $100 payment in November. O’Leath said a constable served Gouza with a 30-day notice on Jan. 20.
“There were specific instructions for him to contact us to make repayment,” O’Leath said.
The department filed the civil claim after Gouza failed to respond, according to O’Leath.
“We gave him 30 days,” O’Leath said. “He got a little over 30 days by the time we filed it.”
The $1,550 civil claim consists of the $1,450 balance plus $75 for the constable service fee.