PITTSBURGH -- Six people, including a worker at the Pittsburgh's Controller's Office, have been arrested and will be charged in connection with a scam involving the city's tow pound auction.

Michael Livingston, 35, of Mount Washington, who works at the Pittsburgh's Controller's Office, is accused of falsely recording final bid amounts for the purchase of vehicles.

Pittsburgh police Auto Squad detectives spent four months investigating multiple complaints from people attending the city's tow pound auctions relating to the sale price of auctioned vehicles.

Police said Livingston, a 12-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Controller's Officer, altered the bids for people he knew.

"One particular sale there was a vehicle that sold at auction at $8,500. The bid slip said the sale price was recorded at $2,000," said Pittsburgh Police Sgt. Rich Begenwald.

Following Livingston's arrest, police said they learned that he also received an undisclosed amount of cash payment in exchange for altering those bids.

As a result, police said the monetary loss for the city of Pittsburgh exceeds $17,500.

"I'm angry. I'm angry as the controller, I'm angry as a public employee because this type of thing makes all public employees look bad and I'm angry as a citizen of this city that someone violate the public trust," said City Controller Michael Lamb.

Donald Matthew Tollan, 56; Donald Matthew Tollan, Jr., 38; Sean Matthew Tollan, 28; Donald Mathias Tollan, 29; and Edward Freiberger, 32, were also arrested in connection with the scam.

All of the suspects were arrested, arraigned and have posted bond.

According to police, each suspect will be charged with criminal conspiracy and theft by deception.

Livingston will also be charged with 22 counts of misapplication of entrusted property and property of government or financial institutions.