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$163,000 Embezzled from Cosmopolitan Spent at Strip Club, Dinner Cruises, DA Say

samsung1

Ohio

The former general manager of the Cosmopolitan in Allentown has been charged with allegedly embezzling more than $163,000 from the restaurant.

James Fortunato, 41, of Coplay, has been charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property.

While manager of the Allentown restaurant, which is located on Sixth Street just off of Hamilton, Fortunato reportedly had check-signing authority, restaurant credit card accounts and access to cash receipts.

According to the Lehigh County District Attorney's office, one of the restaurant's owners discovered a series of suspected unauthorized ATM cash withdrawals reportedly made by Fortunato and unauthorized purchases including dinner cruises, visits to a strip club, and purchases for household items at a retail store.

Fortunato was arraigned today and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 1.

Fortunato was recently named general manager of the new Center Valley entertainment center, Revolutions, which opened earlier this month in the site that formerly housed the Regal movie theater.

When contacted by Lehigh Valley Business, representatives of Revolutions and its parent company, Frank Entertainment, said they have just been made aware of the allegations involving Jim Fortunato, who is no longer employed with the company.

http://www.lvb.com/article/20130125/LVB0…