Newport Ex-Firefighter Pleads Not Guilty Of Embezzling $103K: Reports

NEWPORT, RI — A now-former Newport firefighter pleaded not guilty Thursday after being accused of stealing $100,000 from Newport Firefighters IAFF Local 1080, according to multiple reports.

Marcus Cochran, 42, pleaded not guilty to charges of embezzlement and fraudulent use of a credit card and was released on a $10,000 surety bond in Newport Superior Court, WPRI reported.

Cochran was the firefighter union's treasurer and leaders first became aware there was a problem in December, after which state police were alerted, union president Nicholas Insana told WPRI.

Around that time, bank statements from an account holding union dues showed many unusual transactions, the outlet reported.

WJAR provided a breakdown of the alleged unauthorized spending, reporting that more than $26,000 was spent on hotels, more than $21,000 was spent on flights, more than $6000 was spent on marinas, more than $10,000 was spent on credit card payments, more than $4000 was spent on meals, more than $2000 at bars and more than $2000 was spent on rideshares — plus cell phone payments and payments to Orange Theory Fitness and European Wax Centers.

The unauthorized transactions totaled $103,653, according to WPRI. In February, Cochran returned $80,000 and resigned from the fire department.

Cochran's alleged unauthorized spending was from union funds, not taxpayer dollars, according to WJAR.

Cochran turned himself in to police on Feb. 9, WPRI reported. He is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial conference Jan. 5.