Ex-manager pleads guilty
Brian Simon
Brian Simon admitted his guilt Friday to embezzling more than $500,000 from Nemacolin Country Club.
Brian Simon choked back tears Friday as he admitted before a Washington County Judge to stealing more than $500,000 from a Centerville country club and more than $16,000 from a Canonsburg elementary school parent/teacher association.
Simon, former manager of Nemacolin Country Club and former treasurer of South Central Elementary School PTA, pleaded guilty to theft, three counts of forgery, identity theft and theft by failure to make required disposition funds before Common Pleas Judge John DiSalle. He originally faced more than 180 charges.
Simon, 36, of Washington, was accused of embezzling funds from Nemacolin over a six-year period between January 2007 and March 2013. He was arrested in January at the conclusion of a private investigation by the club’s officers. A private investigator determined Simon embezzled the money through use of company checks that would be deposited into his personal account.
As manager, Simon controlled the kitchen and dining areas, lounge, meeting rooms, administration and golf course.
He conducted his scheme in four separate ways. Simon had checks issued to him for fictitious expenses, and then cashed and deposited those checks. He also created checks for a person with no affiliation to the country club, and then deposited those checks.
Simon also presented fraudulent invoices for items not received by the club. He also created checks for actual vendors that he forged and deposited into his PNC Bank account.
In May, he was arrested by Canonsburg police for the theft from the South Central Elementary School PTA. All but $216.98 has been repaid.
Simon briefly addressed the court Friday. He apologized for his actions and said he took the money to fuel his gambling addiction and to pay for his ill father’s medical expenses.
“I take full responsibility for what I’ve done,” he said.
He said he was coming to grips with his “illness and was attending weekly Gamblers Anonymous meetings.”
DiSalle said told Simon that he needed to keep his addiction under control.
“I once heard that gambling addiction is the worst addiction. But it can be overcome and controlled,” DiSalle said. “You need to address your addiction for (your family) as much as yourself.”
DiSalle sentenced Simon to 11 1/2 to 23 months in jail and granted him work release. After he serves the minimum sentence, Simon will be released from jail and will begin to serve 25 years of probation. Simon must also repay $548,567 in restitution to the club and $216.98 to the PTA. He is required to make weekly payments. As part of his conditions for probation, Simon must abstain from gambling and continue to attend weekly GA meetings. He is banned from gambling establishments and Nemacolin Country Club.
As part of his negotiated plea deal, Simon presented a check for $200,000 to the club Friday. His bond, $25,000, will also be released to the club, reducing the restitution amount to $323,567.
Simon and his attorney, Frank Moore, declined comment.
After the hearing, Simon reported to the county jail to begin his sentence.