Former business manager charged with stealing from North Versailles Fire Department

A White Oak man is charged with stealing from the North Versailles Fire Department, where he worked as business manager, to allegedly pay his child support.

Ryan Marton, 48, of faces counts of theft, unlawful use of a computer, receiving stolen property and misapplication of entrusted property.

He turned himself in to detectives from the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office Thursday and was expected to be released on his own recognizance following arraignment.

Marton was hired to serve as business manager — responsible for all aspects of the fire department’s EMS and social club — in April 2013, according to a criminal complaint.. At some point, the complaint said, Marton was removed from his duties directing the EMS but continued to manage the social club.

No salary was ever negotiated for Marton in his role serving as the bar manager, the complaint said, and instead he paid himself in cash.

Marton was terminated in January 2019 when the bar was closed.

In May 2019, the fire department’s treasurer attempted to use the club’s bank card for a purchase, and it was declined. When he investigated, he found that the state Department of Revenue had withdrawn about $1,800 from the account. According to the complaint, the state had recently assessed the fire company $60,000 in taxes, after someone using Marton’s username and email logged into the state tax system for the fire department and fraudulently entered about $400,000 in sales tax.

“The increase in taxes has financially stripped the fire department and left the department with no money,” the complaint said.

The complaint alleges that Marton used $1,720 from the fire department account to pay his child support.