WEST CHESTER, PA — A resident of Newark, Delaware was sentenced this week in the Chester County Court of Common Pleas to 30 days to 23 months in the Chester County Prison, followed by three years probation, for theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and criminal conspiracy to theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, announced the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
Chester County Court of Common Pleas Judge Allison Bell Royer imposed the sentence on Anthony Lucas, age 58.
According to information presented to the court, Lucas conspired with his co-defendants to steal funds from the Phoenixville Country Club between January 2017 and May 2018. The three cashed either unauthorized checks or checks for amounts greater than authorized and split the proceeds; a portion went back to Lucas and the co-defendants. The defendant used the money for airline tickets, hotels, vacations, home improvement projects, and rentals – including tables, chairs, and pyrotechnics – for events at his house. Lucas and his co-defendants, Grace Crosson and Amy Clark, pled guilty in December 2021.
Judge Royer also ordered Lucas to repay the $147,207 he stole from the Phoenixville Country Club while working as the general manager.
“Anthony Lucas masterminded a scheme to steal almost $150,000 from his employer,’ said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “This was a total breach of trust, and now he and his co-defendants will be held accountable by the criminal justice system. Phoenixville Country Club wasn’t the only victim – the defendant’s greed and criminal behavior also impacted its members and their families. We thank the Schuylkill Twp Police Department for their commitment to this case.”
Co-defendants Crosson and Clark will be sentenced in August 2022.
Chester County District Attorney Ryan commended Sgt Brian McCarthy of the Schuylkill Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lucas. Deputy District Attorney Bill Judge prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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