Former West Brandywine Township official faces trial on theft, forgery charges
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Former West Brandywine Township Manager Ronald A. Rambo Jr. waived his preliminary hearing on theft, forgery charges.
Although Hollywood would likely label a screenplay based on the former West Brandywine Township manager’s embezzlement of more than $400 from his employer – including eight movie tickets – far-fetched, the tale’s real consequences continued Monday in district court.
Ronald A. Rambo Jr., 59, of Coatesville, appeared before Magisterial District Judge Grover E. Koon in Valley Township to waive his preliminary hearing on charges that include forgery and theft. His attorney, Bruce W. Laverty, said the case appeared to be “politically-motivated, and we’re trying to figure out why.”
Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan announced Rambo’s arrest in mid-April, accusing the 20-year manager of approving false medical reimbursements for himself and his family and pilfering movie tickets. Although the amount of stolen funds was relatively small at $456.30, Hogan said no amount of corruption should be tolerated by public officials – especially for the second time.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Rambo had been previously confronted over alleged instances of misappropriating funds, quietly repaid the funds and then continued to misappropriate more, Hogan said. “The facts and the law speak for themselves,” Hogan said Monday.
In interviews with detectives, Rambo acknowledged filing inaccurate paperwork and helping himself to movies tickets, citing financial difficulties in 2010, the criminal complaint said.
Rambo continued to keep his job – even after the criminal charges were filed. He resigned after residents flooded a township meeting to question why he had not been fired.
County detectives began investigating Rambo in February when they were tipped off that the long-time township employee — who oversees the township’s finances as part of his job — was diverting funds for his own use from the medical fund, the complaint said.
Rambo is alleged to have created multiple fake receipts for medical office visits and pharmacy purchases for members of his family, submitted them, and then approved them for payment, dating back to 2010 — funds totaling $376.30. In addition, Rambo is charged with taking a strip of eight movie tickets worth $80 from Regal Cinema in February of this year, court records said. Like many local municipalities, West Brandywine sold discounted movies tickets and therefore kept them in the township office.
Koon set a formal arraignment date for Rambo of June 27.
