Ex-Phoenixville SD Finance Director Sentenced 14 To Months In Prison

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Christopher Gehris, former finance director and business manager of the Phoenixville Area School District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court here to one year and two month in prison for embezzling $94,613, from the district.

Gehris, 47, of Phoenixville was also ordered by U.S. Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg to serve three years of probation following the prison term and pay $94,613 in restitution.

Gehris pleaded guilty on Feb. 2 to money from the district from November 2013 to July 2019 while he was serving as the district’s business manager and finance director.

Gehris, a father of two, resigned on Sept. 4, 2019.

“The defendant stole nearly $100,000 from a public school district, money, some of which was specifically allocated for student activities meant to enhance their educational experience,” U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said in a statement after the sentence was imposed.

“Criminals that embezzle public money from schools are ripping off hundreds of students while also ripping off all taxpayers who fund them.”

The school district has 4,117 students and covers the borough of Phoenixville and East Pikeland and Schuylkill townships.

The judge handed down the sentenced requested by the prosecution.

Gerhis’ attorney, Stephen I. Baer, Phoenixville, Phoenixville, requested a sentence of probation, claiming his client is remorseful and plans to pay the district back from his retirement account.

According to court records:

In 2006, the defendant was hired as a controller for the district and later promoted to business manager.

In 2018, he was appointed to serve as the director of finance.

From 2013 until 2019, Gehris cashed checks made payable to himself and to “cash,” received checks and direct deposits into his personal checking account for “start-up money” for student activities, stole cash from school programs, and obtained gift cards for personal expenditures – all in furtherance of his embezzlement scheme.

Gehris also admitted that he hid his thefts by altering receipts and falsifying reports submitted to the school board.

Patch reported on the case when Gehris was arrested in December 2021. Read here.