Ex-Treasurer of CT. Canine Search and Rescue Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Group's Funds

The former treasurer of the Kensington-based Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $150,000 from the group and using the money to gamble and pay for personal expenses.

Connecticut’s U.S. Deirdre M. Daly announced that Thomas Recck, 50, of New Britain, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in Bridgeport.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Recck was the Treasurer for Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue, Inc. (CCSAR) in Kensington, a volunteer-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the search and rescue of missing and lost persons in the United States by using trained search and rescue dogs. As the organization’s treasurer, Recck had access to the bank accounts of CCSAR.

He pleaded guilty to transferring $150,329.57 from CCCSR accounts into a separate account that he controlled and used the funds to gamble and for other personal expenses, from approximately January 2008 to August 2012.

Recck also failed to report the stolen funds on his federal tax returns.

Recck pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of filing a false tax return, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of three years. Meyer scheduled sentencing for April 29.

Recck also has agreed to full restitution, as well as back taxes, penalties and interest for the 2008 through 2012 tax years.

Following his guilty plea, Recck was released on bond.

The case was investigated by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and the Greenwich Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas P. Morabito.

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