Woman from Pennsylvania Admitted Guilty to Stealing $533,000 from DraftKings
A small-town saga in rural Centre County, Pennsylvania, has come to a close with the guilty plea of Pamela Hackenburg, the former Gregg Township Secretary and Treasurer. Hackenburg admitted to embezzling over $533,000 in taxpayer funds, a sum that includes $322,000 spent on legal sports betting, over $149,000 funneled through Venmo, and nearly $49,000 in miscellaneous personal spending[1][2].
The scheme, which operated for five years starting just months into Hackenburg's tenure, unraveled after a township employee received a credit card statement in early 2024, packed with sports betting deposits and charges labeled "DraftKings". The independent audit that followed revealed nearly 3,700 fraudulent Pennsylvania sports betting transactions dating back to March 2019[1].
The case has exposed deep flaws in local oversight in the community, raising questions about the adequacy of financial controls and auditing processes. The township has since overhauled its financial controls, slashing credit card limits, mandating annual background checks, and turning over all bookkeeping to an outside firm[1].
The case is being handled in Centre County Court, with Crystal Hundt serving as the Deputy District Attorney. Hundt confirmed that she will seek full restitution at sentencing, now set for Sept. 16[1]. The township has filed a claim under its $700,000 bond policy and expects a decision on reimbursement within weeks[1].
The stolen funds were used for legal sports betting, Venmo transactions, personal trips, luxury purchases, resorts, restaurants, and retail spending[1]. Hackenburg's guilty plea includes charges of theft, identity theft, and access device fraud[1].
Tory Ballenger-Snyder, a resident whose rent payments were among the funds stolen, expressed relief at Hackenburg's plea, offering long-awaited accountability. The case serves as a cautionary tale across Pennsylvania, highlighting the need for enhanced transparency, tightened oversight, and stricter checks and balances in township financial operations to prevent similar embezzlement cases[1].
References: [1] ABC27 News. (2025, June 15). Gregg Township Secretary pleads guilty to embezzling $533,000. Retrieved from https://abc27.com/news/local/centre-county/gregg-township-secretary-pleads-guilty-to-embezzling-533000/ [2] The Centre Daily Times. (2025, June 15). Former Gregg Township Secretary pleads guilty to embezzlement. Retrieved from https://centredaily.com/news/local/centre-county/gregg-township-secretary-pleads-guilty-to-embezzlement/article_c8d6b338-c261-11ed-a5d9-6b90a67d181d.html
- Despite the setback in local finances due to embezzlement, the township in question is now seeking stricter checks and balances in sports betting, such as slashing credit card limits and mandating annual background checks.
- In addition to sports betting, the embezzled funds were also used for personal trips, luxury purchases, resorts, restaurants, retail spending, and Venmo transactions.
- The case of Pamela Hackenburg, the former Gregg Township Secretary and Treasurer, has raised questions about the legality of sports betting sites and the need for general-news outlets to provide more coverage on this issue.
- In light of the embezzlement case, some political figures are calling for stricter laws and regulations to prevent similar crime-and-justice incidents associated with sports betting activities.
- The Betting Sites industry could potentially face increased scrutiny as a result of this case, particularly in terms of its role in preventing illegal transactions and cooperating with law enforcement agencies in cases of fraud.
