MONACA, Pa. — Michael Ribar, the fire chief of Monaca Volunteer Fire Station No. 58, is charged with stealing thousands of dollars from a firefighter's relief fund to pay for personal expenses.
According to police, the investigation began June 4 when two ranking members of the Monaca No. 5 VFC Relief Association came to Monaca police to report possible theft from the fire department's relief association bank account.
They showed police a letter from the relief association’s credit union that had been sent to Ribar informing him the account, which is funded by the state, had been in the negative since March at the time when Ribar was acting treasurer of the relief fund.
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Police said the president of the relief association contacted officials at Freedom United Credit Union and were given the evidence. According to police paperwork, Ribar withdrew cash totaling more than $33,000 from 2018 until April 2020.
According to Monaca police, Ribar admitted to the theft, saying he had been through financial hardships. He told police he used the money to pay bills, buy gas for his vehicle and other personal expenses. He said “he knew it was wrong and he envisioned himself eventually being arrested.
Ribar has been with the department for more than a decade. He was charged with theft and receiving stolen property -- both felonies.
His hearing is on July 10.
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