North central Pa. Moose lodge closes due to $63,000 in thefts; former official awaiting trial

EMPORIUM, Pa. — A north central Pennsylvania Moose lodge has closed apparently because it could not recover from losing $63,000 allegedly stolen by its former administrator.
Charges were filed in September against that man, 43-year-old James Geelen, of Emporium, whose attorney didn't immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Police Chief John Lovett tells the Bradford Era the club was "financially strained, and the embezzlement probably had a lot to do with it."
Emporium police announced the charges only Monday, however, even though Geelen waived his right to a preliminary hearing last month and is awaiting trial on 39 counts including theft, receiving stolen property and forgery.
Emporium Mayor Bruno Carnovale says Moose Lodge No. 368 closed over the weekend. Police Chief John Lovett tells the Bradford Era the club was "financially strained, and the embezzlement probably had a lot to do with it."
Emporium is about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, in Cameron County.