Former TRAM director charged with embezzlement

The former executive director of Three Rivers Area Mentoring is being charged with embezzlement.
Randall Norton was arrested on Monday and charged with embezzlement of $1,000 – $20,000 from a non-profit charitable organization.
Three Rivers police met with board members of TRAM back in January about possible embezzlement by Norton as the incoming director found inconsistencies on the books of TRAM in addition to some missing money.

Then, in April, an auditor turned in a report of TRAM’s books and found misuse of the non-profit’s debit card as well as reports that were fraudulent about accounts, missing cash deposits and grants that were not applied for to sustain their mission.
Following the audit, search warrants were sent out for records of transactions that were identified as possible embezzlements.  After those records were checked out and Norton was interviewed, a warrant was issued by the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office.
Almost $10,000 were allegedly identified as personal expenses paid out by TRAM to Norton. Additionally, more than $11,000 was identified as excess payroll that was allegedly paid out to Norton.