Former DuBois Employee Pleads Guilty in $1.5 Million City Funds Embezzlement Case
Former DuBois administrative secretary Roberta Shaffer pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to embezzlement and an unlawful monetary transaction charge in a public-corruption case centered on more than $1.5 million in alleged misuse of city funds.
Federal prosecutors have accused Shaffer and former DuBois City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio of operating secret bank accounts outside the oversight of city council members and auditors while diverting revenue intended for city government. According to a federal superseding indictment, investigators allege the pair misappropriated more than $1.5 million over a period spanning more than a decade.
Prosecutors alleged the money was used for cash withdrawals, checks, credit card payments and other personal expenses. The indictment also included money-laundering allegations tied to transactions exceeding federal reporting thresholds.
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Shaffer originally pleaded not guilty but changed her plea on two counts while acknowledging responsibility related to additional conduct outlined in the case. She is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 22 and could face prison time, restitution and financial penalties.
The guilty plea represents a major development in the long-running federal investigation that has drawn attention across Clearfield County and western Pennsylvania. Suplizio continues to maintain his innocence, and his federal case remains active.
For DuBois residents, the case remains closely tied to questions about public accountability, municipal finances and the handling of taxpayer-related funds. The next major milestone is Shaffer’s sentencing and any potential impact her plea may have on the government’s ongoing prosecution of Suplizio.
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