The Yale Area Chamber of Commerce is suing its former treasurer for embezzlement.
The chamber revealed to its members last December that their treasurer was involved in an alleged embezzlement case. The treasurer had worked for the chamber’s executive board since 2019, with the chamber’s website showing that Kellie Lauwers, wife of State Sen. Dan Lauwers of Brockway Township, began her work as treasurer in 2019. She was recently replaced in the role by Fred Manulow.
The chamber recently filed suit against her on Tuesday, February 4 in St. Clair County’s Circuit Court. According to the lawsuit, Lauwers allegedly began embezzling in December 2022, and has taken $32,300 from the chamber via checks written to herself.
The embezzlement was discovered in November 2024, when a review of profit statements showed discrepancies, and further investigation found that Lauwers had allegedly forged signatures of other board members. Via the complaint, the chamber says Lauwers admitted to the theft but claimed she would not repay the money, even threatening to move the money out of her name to make it unreachable in the event of a judgment against her.
The full text of the complaint can be found below.
