(FLORISSANT, Colo.) — At a recent Florissant Fire Protection District (FFPD) board meeting, President Paul Del Toro announced that the district had escaped an attempt to steal tens of thousands of dollars. He said embezzlement attempts were through a series of forged checks.
The incident unfolded in late December, but it only came to light during the board meeting last week, where Del Toro disclosed the discovery of multiple forged checks, totaling more than $77,000. He said the checks were presented to the bank over a week-long period with FFPD listed as the account holder.
The board was notified by the banks on Dec. 28, prompting them to take immediate action by freezing the compromised account.
During the board meeting on Jan. 17, Del Toro assured the community that despite the attempt, no money was lost as the banks either declined or reversed the forged checks. He also said a new account had been opened, and the board will ensure that each check that gets sent out gets verified through Del Toro.