Spending of Mt. Oliver police chief investigated

May 21--Detectives are investigating whether Mt. Oliver's police chief spent money from a police bank account to pay an electric bill, phone bill and other personal expenses, court records show.

Chief Frank C. Mosesso, on paid leave from the department with a shoulder injury since October 2012, referred questions on Tuesday to his attorney, Bill Difenderfer.

"I really can't say anything about it right now," Mosesso said.

Difenderfer did not return messages seeking comment. Mosesso has not been charged.

Acting police Chief Matt Juzwick met with Detective Kevin Flanigan from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office in September regarding a theft from the borough, according to an affidavit of probable cause attached to search warrants related to the case.

Juzwick told Flanigan that payments "personal in nature" were made from a First National Bank checking account in the name of Mt. Oliver Police Department, the affidavit said.

Some payments were for credit cards, including Bank of America and Capital One, and personal payments to Duquesne Light, Nationwide Insurance, T-Mobile and for parking tickets, the affidavit said.

Flanigan obtained search warrants on April 9 for a Duquesne Light account, Citizens Bank records for a Mt. Oliver police account, including money transfers that list the borough or Mosesso, a T-Mobile account, a Bill Me Later account connected to Mosesso, and records associated with the First National Bank account.

Flanigan could not be reached for comment.

Money was deposited into the First National account from checks made payable to the department from fines generated at District Judge Richard King's office and from Allegheny County Common Pleas Court for appeals and DUI penalties, the affidavit said.

Juzwick told Flanigan the checks should have been deposited into the borough's general fund.

The account signature card is signed by six people, including Juzwick, Mosesso and Christine Secilia, described in the affidavit as a police officer who was Mosesso's "girlfriend at one point in time."

"Juzwick states that most of the checks made payable to personal items were signed both by (Mosesso) and Secilia," the affidavit said.

Secilia, who could not be reached, filed a federal lawsuit against the borough last year claiming Mosesso sexually harassed her.

Juzwick declined comment. Mt. Oliver Mayor James Cassidy and Council President Billie Michener did not return calls.

Juzwick told Flanigan that the bank account was transferred from First National to Citizens Bank, and about $1,300 was cashed out of the account when it was closed.

Margaret Harding is a Trib Total Media staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-8519 or [email protected].

___

(c)2014 The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.)

Visit The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Greensburg, Pa.) at www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib

Distributed by MCT Information Services