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By Stephanie Farr
The Philadelphia Daily News

PHILADELPHIA — The treasurer of an organization that supports injured volunteer firefighters from several Delaware County towns has been charged with stealing more than $11,000 of the group's funds.

Jason Smith, 34, of Marcus Hook, was treasurer of the Marcus Hook-Trainer Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association, a nonprofit organization that funds insurance, equipment and training expenses for firefighters from Marcus Hook, Trainer and Lennox Park.

Smith allegedly wrote checks to himself and forged the signatures of other officers. Investigators said Smith issued himself 23 fraudulent checks totaling $11,640 between 2004 and 2008.

Since volunteer-firefighter-relief associations receive state aid, the funds are checked by the Auditor General's Office to verify they are spent according to law. Smith's alleged theft came to light during one such audit, according to court records.

He turned himself in to county detectives yesterday morning and was charged with forgery, theft and related offenses. He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

It's unknown if Smith also was a volunteer firefighter. A Marcus Hook fire official who answered the phone at the station yesterday referred questions to the District Attorney's Office.

A spokesman there didn't know whether Smith was a firefighter.

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