Senior employee at Pueblo Rescue Mission accused of stealing money from residents

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - Leadership at the Pueblo Rescue Mission (PRM) tells KRDO13 that they have recently uncovered evidence of financial misconduct by one of their senior employees.

A statement from Executive Director of the Pueblo Rescue Mission, Joshua Lane said a thorough internal investigation revealed that the employee had violated financial policies and had taken funds directly from several residents at the mission.

Residents tell KRDO13 they are devastated and heartbroken, "I can't believe this person would do this to all of us. How cruel. You've got some people who have their inheritance here, a large sum of money. I've lost thousands upon thousands, but so have many others," Jennifer Strowmatt said.

The mission said as soon as the issue was identified, the individual involved was relieved of their duties, and "appropriate legal actions are being pursued."

The mission said they are working with the Pueblo Police Department to resolve the matter and will "press forward on charges to the fullest extent of the law."

Although residents say nothing will make up for what is lost now, "I had faith in this place and I believed in it, and I said, okay, I'm gonna get back on my feet, save some money, get my own place. And now that I got it all, it was wiped away. The rug pulled was out from under me," Frankie Goscinski said.