Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Former Marine Corps League Commandant Accused of Embezzlement


An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for Alan Wayne Beaird, 48, formerly of Sallisaw and former commandant for the local Marine Corps League. The warrant accuses Beaird of embezzlement of a sum “in excess of $1,000 that belonged to the Marine Corps League.”

The warrant was requested by District Attorney Brian Kuester based upon an investigation by the Sallisaw Police Department.

According to the affidavit filed with the arrest warrant Beaird became a suspect when the current Marine Corps League commandant, William Brocker, reported money was missing and he “believed Beaird to be the responsible party.”

The affidavit notes that the league required two authorized signers for the league’s account, and purchases to be approved by a vote of league members. One debit card was issued for the account and was to remain with the league’s paymaster, the affidavit reports.

But, the affidavit continues, Beaird would sign out the debit card and not return it or the required receipts. 

Bank statements from October 2012 through June 2016 were reviewed. In 2015 investigators found seven transactions that appeared to be unauthorized. In 2014 four transactions appeared to be unauthorized, and in 2013 the investigator found 24 transactions that appeared to be unauthorized.

Both the paymaster and current commandant told investigators “the charges were not approved or voted on,” and “Beaird was in possession of the debit card during the times of these transactions.”

The affidavit concludes “…the Marine Corps league has held multiple fundraisers and received thousands of dollars in donations. . . .Beaird always insisted on making the deposits. . .” but would have an excuse for losing the deposit slips. “At this time it is unknown if any of the donation money had been taken.”

Brocker told investigators that the state commandant “came down in the early part of 2016 and held a special election to remove Beaird from the commandant position.”

According to the affidavit, Beaird is now a resident of Rogers, Ark.

His bond was set at $5,000. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, Beaird had not been arrested according to the Sallisaw Police Department.


Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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