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Former Iowa fire chief arrested and charged with theft

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STARTS WITH A BREAKING NEWS. AND THAT BREAKING NEWS TAKES US TO MILLS COUNTY, IOWA, WHERE A FORMER PACIFIC JUNCTION FIRE CHIEF HAS BEEN ARRESTED. OFFICERS FINISHED A PRESS CONFERENCE A FEW MINUTES AGO. BILL SCHAMMERT IS ON THE LIVE DESK WITH THE CHARGES. PHIL? YES. ROB. JULIE. FORMER CHIEF ERNIE GENCARELLI JUNIOR IS CHARGED WITH CONTINUING CRIMINAL CONDUCT, FIRST DEGREE THEFT AND MONEY LAUNDERING, AMONG OTHERS. OFFICIALS BELIEVE HE MAY HAVE STOLEN AROUND $40,000 TO USE ON THINGS LIKE PAYMENTS AT RESTAURANTS, CASH WITHDRAWALS, DIAPERS AND OTHER PERSONAL EXPENSES. WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO GENCARELLI IN 2019, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE FLOOD, AND THE TOWN HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARDS GETTING PEOPLE BACK. TODAY, THE MILLS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ADDRESSED THE MEDIA IN GLENWOOD AND REPORTED THE ALLEGATIONS THEY HAVE MADE AGAINST HIM AFTER THAT DEVASTATING FLOOD IN 2019 HAVE ravaged this small community. They were trying to rebuild. They were trying to rebuild their homes, their community. And because of this devastating loss, we unfortunately had to arrest the Fire Chief, the former Fire Chief, and charge him with the crime of stealing from these unfortunate members of this community. THE PACIFIC JUNCTION FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISMISSED LAST DECEMBER. AUTHORITIES SAY THERE IS A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE END OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THESE FEES BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE FUNDS

Iowa District Attorney Announces Former Fire Chief Indicted for Money Laundering and Arrested on Multiple Charges

The former Pacific Junction fire chief was arrested Wednesday on several charges, according to the Mills County District Attorney’s Office. Ernie Gencarelli, 67, was arrested on charges of continuing criminal conduct, first-degree theft and money laundering. Officials believe he may have stolen around $40,000 to use for things like restaurant payments, cash withdrawals and personal expenses. Officials said the charges stem from alleged money laundering while the city worked to rebuild after the 2019 floods. “After the devastating flood, they were trying to rebuild their homes and the community. In the face of this devastating loss, we had to arrest the former fire chief and charge him with the crime of stealing from the members of this community,” said Mills County District Attorney DeShawne Bird-Sell. Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7.

PACIFIC JUNCTION, Iowa —

The former Pacific Junction fire chief was arrested Wednesday on multiple charges, according to the Mills County District Attorney’s Office.

Ernie Gencarelli, 67, was arrested for continuing criminal conduct, first degree theft and money laundering.

Officials believe he may have stolen around $40,000 to use for things like restaurant visits, cash withdrawals and personal expenses.

Officials said the charges stem from alleged money laundering during the city’s reconstruction efforts following the 2019 floods.

“After the devastating flood, they were trying to rebuild their homes and the community. Because of this devastating loss, we had to arrest the former fire chief and charge him with theft from the members of this community,” said Mills County Prosecutor DeShawne Bird-Sell.

Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

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