The former head of York County Community Action Corp. was sentenced Tuesday to serve 30 months in prison and pay over $1.3 million in restitution for embezzling approximately $1 million from the organization to fuel a gambling habit.
The Bangor Daily News reported 56-year-old Thomas Nelson had pleaded guilty last July to embezzlement that took place between 2004 and 2010.
The York County nonprofit oversees various programs serving low-income residents, including pre-kindergarten classes, fuel assistance and home weatherization.
Nelson’s attorney, Jeffrey Silverstein, told the court that his client’s embezzlement was an attempt to satisfy an out-of-control gambling habit.
Joseph Groff, an attorney for the nonprofit, said the agency received some insurance money to offset what was embezzled.
