Stamford Historical Society Treasurer Is Charged with Embezzlement

The treasurer of the Stamford Historical Society has been arrested on a larceny charge in connection with the embezzlement of more than $20,000 from the organization.

Several suspicious withdrawals from the Historical Society’s checking account were discovered when the organization was preparing its 2014 tax statement with an accountant it hired, according to Stamford Police.

The Historical Society board of directors was notified and they conducted an internal audit and discovered that from August 2013 to December 2014 there were unauthorized cash withdrawals from the account totaling $20,100, according to police. The only person who distributes the checks is the treasurer.

The society’s board confronted the treasurer who said he was going to invest the money in his personal financial accounts to get a better return on the money. However, the treasurer was never authorized to remove the monies for other than Historical Societies bills and expenses.

The Board of Directors notified Stamford Police on March 5 and began an investigation that included seizure of the treasurer’s bank account.

The treasurer, identified as Donald Huppert, 72, of 63 Turn of River Rd., Stamford, gave police a voluntary statement and said that his intentions was to invest the money. However, he admitted that at no time did he invest the money and had spent the money, police said. Police Lt. Diedrich Hohn said Huppert did not elaborate on what the money was used for.

On Monday, the SPD Property Crimes Division applied for an arrest warrant for Huppert. He surrendered to police and was charged with first-degree larceny. Huppert was released on a written promise to appear March 23 for arraignment in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Huppert has been suspended from his treasurer duties, according to Hohn.

To sign up for breaking Stamford news alerts and more, click here.

Other Patch stories:

• Skateboarding City Teen in Critical Condition After Being Struck by Minivan
• Family Centers’ Titan Speaker Series to Host Suzy and Jack Welch
• Undercover Operation Yields Prostitution Arrests in Stamford

Photo: Donald Huppert. Credit: Stamford Police.