NORTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Charges have been filed against a former employee after money went missing from the Attorney General’s Narcotics Office in North Huntingdon.
We first told you about this missing drug money in May as part of an 11 Investigates Exclusive, when agents discovered $100,000 in drug forfeiture money and drug buy money was unaccounted for.
After leaving the Attorney General’s Office in February 2024, Brenda Sawyer took over as Chief of Police in the McKeesport Area School District. The solicitor tells Channel 11 she is now on leave pending an investigation.
Her North Versailles home was raided in May as part of the investigation.
In addition to the theft at the narcotics office, Sawyer is accused of stealing money from a local NAACP chapter.
She was taken into custody Thursday and is facing multiple felony charges, including forgery and theft.
According to the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, Sawyer issued more than 60 checks to herself totaling more than $45,000. The money came from accounts belong to the AG’s Office. Investigators say many of the checks were written on dates coinciding with Sawyer accessing an account at River’s Casino.
Sawyer also allegedly took eight evidence envelopes containing more than $75,000.
The investigation also uncovered Sawyer withdrew more than $50,000 from the McKeesport NAACP while serving as director of the Community Violence Fund program. She allegedly forged the treasurer’s signature.
Sawyer was arraigned in Irwin Thursday evening and has a preliminary hearing set for Sept. 13.
The Attorney General’s Office provided the following statement:
“Upon discovering missing funds from the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation Section in our North Huntingdon office, our agency referred the matter to the Westmoreland County District Attorney for investigation. An employee who no longer works for the Office of Attorney General has now been charged by the District Attorney’s Office with theft and related offenses regarding the missing money. Additionally, the employee has been charged with stealing money from a local chapter of the NAACP. The Office of Attorney General has been cooperating with the investigation and will continue to do so as this matter proceeds through the criminal justice system.”
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