An Indian-origin man has been charged with stealing USD 85,844 over a period of six years from a Gujarati cultural group in the US where he served as treasurer.
Girishcha Patel, 59, is accused of withdrawing the funds from the bank accounts of the Federation of Gujarati Associations in North America (FOGANA) without its permission, court records show.
Patel, who served as treasurer between 2004 and 2012, allegedly committed the theft between Janaury 1, 2006 and March 31, 2012, court records show.
Patel was arrested on October 21 and later released on bail.
The association's website indicates that the non-profit organisation was formed in 1980 "to bring all the Gujarati people living in North America closer together by promoting a common platform to sustain and perpetuate the cultural heritage of Gujarat, India", NJ.Com reported.
In January 2013, the group contacted the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office to report that Patel had misappropriated the organisation's funds, authorities said. As treasurer, Patel was the only person with access to the bank accounts, court records show.
Evidence of the ongoing theft is based on subpoenaed bank records, tampered bank statements provided by Patel to FOGANA officers, falsified financial reports, a fictitious bank account number, and emails sent by Patel expressing his intent to repay the money, court records show.
The funds were withdrawn at times from a Bank of America branch in Franklin Township, court records show.
