Joppa-Magnolia Hit By Mother-Daughter Bingo Scheme

JOPPA, MD — A woman and her daughter have been indicted on charges of stealing and embezzling from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, where the mother was a member in charge of bingo nights and the banquet hall, officials said.

Carol Reprogel, 56, and her daughter Jessie Reprogel, 32, both of the 1500 block of Harford Square Drive in Edgewood, were taken into custody following a more than three-month investigation into misappropriation of funds from the fire company.

The Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company contacted the Harford County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 18 to report a theft at its main station in the 1400 block of Mountain Road. According to a statement from the fire company, its newly elected officers in January noticed "irregularities" in the weekly bingo night deposits and found "questionable expenses" billed to the company's credit card.

In all, the sheriff's office estimated that $65,500 was either stolen or embezzled from the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company from 2014 to 2017.

The fire company’s credit card was used for more than $50,000 in unauthorized charges from 2014 to 2017, including for personal items, the sheriff's office reported. More than $10,000 of bingo night money was unaccounted for between June 1, 2016, and Jan. 16, 2017, officials said, and approximately $5,500 worth of deposits for hall rentals were unaccounted for as well.

Anyone who rented or used the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company banquet hall between 2014 and 2017 is asked to contact Corporal Justin Blubaugh of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 443-409-3487.

Both Reprogels were served with indictments for theft scheme from $10,000 to $100,000 and conspiracy to commit a theft scheme from $10,000 to $100,000.

Carol Reprogel was also indicted for embezzlement and misappropriation of funds by an administrator.

The mother and daughter were arrested April 28 and taken to the Harford County Detention Center, where each was released after posting a $25,000 bond.

They are scheduled to be arraigned in Harford County Circuit Court on June 5.

Carol Reprogel has taken a voluntary leave of absence from the fire company, Joppa-Magnolia said in a statement. She may be subject to a disciplinary review following the criminal proceedings.

"The JMVFC is a Public Safety Agency of Harford County, Maryland. Being such, keeping the public’s trust is of the utmost importance," the fire company said in a statement. "Additional accountability measures relating to Bingo and Hall finances have been established."

The fire company has created a Hall Audit Committee that will meet monthly to audit all finances related to hall rentals, income and expenses. It has also established a Bingo Committee made up of two members who will be present at all times "using specific items and techniques that will ensure there are no irregularities," officials said. Bingo takes place weekly at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and the hall at 1403 Mountain Road South in Joppa is available for rent by calling 410-679-1055.

Photos courtesy of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.