By MARISSA DECHANT
Staff writer
A Utica woman is facing fraud charges after she allegedly withdrew more than $5,000 from the Friends of the Franklin Wrestling Club during her time as the organization’s president.
A criminal complaint filed through district judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said on Nov. 20, Franklin police received a complaint reporting fraudulent activity involving the booster club.
The complainant stated more than $5,000 had been stolen from the club’s account while under the direct responsibility of 35-year-old Rebekah Eakin.
It was found that from January 2016 to August 2017, Eakin had used a debit card issued to the booster club to make 43 transactions totaling $5,125 for her personal benefit, the complaint said.
Eakin was unable to provide any documentation to show proof that the transactions were made on behalf of the club, the complaint said.
Police spoke with Eakin on Jan. 9, and she admitted to using the account for personal gains, such as paying her cell phone bill, and said she had always returned the money to the account, the complaint said.
Eakin said she had lost the majority of the withdrawal receipts, the complaint said.
She was arraigned before Kirtland and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Central Court.
