Sulphur Man Arrested for Allegedly Stealing More than $300,000 from Nonprofit

Published January 21, 2022

A Sulphur man has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $300,000 from a nonprofit he worked with.

Sulphur, LA – Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office reported on January 21, 2022, that on June 7, 2021, CPSO detectives received a report about Richard J. Cole, Sr., 73, of Sulphur, stealing from a local nonprofit. During the investigation, the complainant informed detectives that they discovered numerous discrepancies on bank statements and expense reports for which Cole was responsible as the nonprofit's treasurer. Cole also wrote over $100,000 in checks to himself from the nonprofit account but was unable to provide documentation on what the checks were written for, according to detectives.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that numerous payments on Cole's personal credit cards and accounts were made with money from the nonprofit. Cole allegedly stole over $367,500 since January 2015, according to the investigation.

Cole was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on January 20. He was charged with theft over $25,000 at the time. Judge Tony Fazzio released him on a $75,000 ROR bond.
Detective John Melton of the CPSO is the case's lead investigator.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Featured image source: CPSO