DuBOIS — On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office filed new charges — including 13 felonies and 10 misdemeanors — against DuBois Manager John “Herm” Suplizio, who is on paid administrative leave with the city.
In the new affidavit of probable cause, Suplizio, 63, of DuBois, is accused of committing more than $550,000 in fraudulent transactions using public accounts associated with the City of DuBois, DuBois Volunteer Fire Department and DuBois Area United Way.
He is accused of theft totaling $369,472 and tax fraud totaling $181,360.
According to a press release issued by Attorney General Michelle Henry, Suplizio now faces, in total, 13 felony counts including theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, and conflict of interest; and 10 misdemeanor counts including misapplication of entrusted property, fraudulent return, and obstruction.
Suplizio, who also served as executive director of the DuBois Area United Way, was arraigned Wednesday at the DuBois Magisterial District Judge Office before Senior District Judge Carmine Prestia of Centre County after DuBois District Judge David Meholick recused himself from further hearings involving Suplizio.
Suplizio’s bail was set at $100,000, unsecured. He was ordered to surrender his passport and have no access or control over the financial assets of the city. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. on Nov. 28 in Courtroom No. 1 of the Clearfield County Courthouse.
The criminal complaint filed Wednesday with Prestia encompasses all of the charges against Suplizio, said Henry.
“Instead of acting in the best interests of the community he was supposed to serve, the defendant used his position to line his own pockets and abused his authority for personal gain,” Henry said. “This arrest is a reminder that no one is above the law, and that everyone who holds public office in Pennsylvania is accountable to the people.”
The new charges were filed following the last court appearance in this case, on Aug. 16, before Senior Judge Charles H. Saylor. Some of the additional charges are a result of investigation conducted since the grand jury presentment was issued last year.
According to Henry, Suplizio is charged for allegedly using funds from city bank accounts and the DuBois Area United Way account to pay his personal credit card bills, make political donations and gamble. The majority of the funds came from accounts for Community Days, an annual summer event presented by the DuBois Volunteer Fire Department, for which Suplizio and his secretary were the sole signatories, Henry said.
Suplizio also allegedly used his position as manager to enter into contracts with businesses for which he received personal benefits, said Henry. In addition, Suplizio provided false information on his tax returns, paying for numerous charges with public money and claiming those charges as unreimbursed expenses on his taxes, she said.
The affidavit of probable cause filed Wednesday included updated amounts of alleged theft and tax fraud — a total of $550,832.96 — by Suplizio.
