Woman Stole $24K from 'Ride for Adam,' DA Says

A Breinigsville woman has been charged with theft and other offenses for allegedly stealing $23,580 from the according to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.

Charmaine Lynn McKelvey, 43, of 8657 Breinigsville Road, Breinigsville, is charged with theft by unlawful taking or disposition, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds, all third-degree felonies, according to a news release issued Tuesday.

In January, South Whitehall Township Police began an investigation into the theft or misappropriation of money from the  which supports a non-profit foundation that assists families with funding for treatment and research of a neuromuscular degenerative disease.

The Race for Adam Foundation was created in 2005 by colleagues of Sean Recke, a Salisbury Middle School teacher, whose son, Adam, has Niemann-Pick Type C.

The money was raised at a raffle for a motorcycle Aug. 25 at the Schnecksville Community Fire Company. McKelvey was president of the American Legion Riders Chapter #16 and was the organizer of the raffle, which netted ticket sales of $23,980, according to the district attorney's office.

Police determined that only four raffle winners received their cash prizes and a gift card.

The name of the winner of the grand prize, a 2012 custom-painted Harley Davidson Switchback motorcycle, was never released, despite authorities' repeated requests to McKelvey, the district attorney's office said. The grand prize has not been claimed or awarded, according to the press release. Five other winners also have not received their prizes that total $175.

"Police served search warrants on several financial institutions and conducted numerous interviews to try to locate the money that was collected and promised" to the foundation by McKelvey, according to the district attorney's office.

As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, Charmaine Lynn McKelvey, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.