A Pittsburgh legal professional is charged with embezzling greater than $1.3 million from the group that operates the Duquesne Incline.
Christopher Furman, 53, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on costs of wire fraud and cash laundering, the Division of Justice mentioned Thursday.
The ten-county indictment alleges that Furman transferred cash to his checking account from that of the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline.
The DOJ says Furman made 25 totally different transactions between October 2024 and September 2025. He allegedly put the cash in a web-based cryptocurrency trade and digital asset administration platform, the place he traded cryptocurrency for himself.
In keeping with the indictment, this occurred whereas Furman was president of the Society’s board. Furman was chosen for that place as a result of he used to work for the incline and knew how its mechanics labored, the DOJ says.
The Society has reportedly operated the Duquesne Incline since 1964.
Whereas the board president, Furman was not allowed to take a look at the Society’s checking account or use its cash for private causes, the DOJ says.
Every rely of wire fraud carries a most complete sentence of as much as 20 years in jail and/or a positive of $250,000 or double the acquire from the alleged criminal activity.
Every rely of cash laundering carries a most of 10 years in jail and/or the identical financial penalty.
The Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline issued this assertion on Thursday:
“The Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline (“The Society”), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) group, has been suggested of the submitting of federal costs right this moment towards a former Board President.
“Upon the invention of discrepancies inside monetary data, the group reported the matter to authorities. Because the inception of the investigation, the person has been utterly faraway from their place and barred from any issues involving The Society. The Society has absolutely cooperated with the FBI and the USA Legal professional’s Workplace all through their investigations.
“The Society is grateful for the devoted and thorough dealing with of those issues by these entities. The historic Duquesne Incline stays absolutely operational and The Society continues the mission of preservation. On recommendation of counsel, Sarah Krolikowski, Esquire, The Society will make no additional feedback to take care of the integrity of the continuing investigation and prosecution.”
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