Man in Bingo Palace theft pleads guilty to lesser charge
Volk, Grand Forks, was charged with Class B felony theft of property in February, but pleaded guilty to a lesser felony theft of property charge as part of a plea agreement.
In court, Volk admitted that between January 2005 and December 2007, he stole more than $136,000 from the Bingo Palace by withdrawing cash winnings in excess of the amount really won, paying winners the exact winning amount and then pocketing the leftover cash.Volk worked as a cashier at the Bingo Palace for 14 years before he was fired late last year. The Bingo Palace is one of the fundraising sites for the North Dakota Association for the Disabled, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to people who may not be able to afford medical equipment or treatment.
Volk was fired after an internal audit at the Bingo Palace connected him to missing money, NDAD officials said after his arrest.
Although the nature of the offense hasn't changed, a Class C felony is a lesser offense than a Class B felony. A Class C felony has a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine, while a Class B felony has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
A court only can impose $5,000 in restitution with a Class C felony, according to what was said in Grand Forks state district court today.
But, according to the plea agreement between the Grand Forks State's Attorney's office and Volk, he has agreed to pay the entire amount he's accused of taking from the Bingo Palace.
Under the plea agreement, Volk also would be sentenced to about 60 days confined, in county jail or on electronic home monitoring.
Volk was ordered
to undergo a presentence investigation, after which he is scheduled to
appear before Grand Forks State District Judge Debbie Kleven in a
sentencing hearing June 4.
Written by Susanne Nadeau
www.grandforksherald.com
