May 28—WILKES-BARRE — A longtime manager of Wilkes-Barre-based Falzone Towing Service has been accused of stealing more than $500,000 from the company by altering customer towing receipts and pocketing the money, according to court records.
Michael Anthony Cicon, 56, of Ferretti Drive, Wyoming, was arraigned Friday afternoon by District Judge Thomas Malloy of Wilkes-Barre on five counts of theft and two counts of receiving stolen property.
Detectives from the Wilkes-Barre City Police and Luzerne County Prosecutor’s Office said in court records that a large amount of cash from the towing company was found in duffel bags and a safe at Cicon’s residence when a search warrant was executed last week. Receipts from the towing company were also allegedly found at Cicon’s home.
Court records allege that Cicon had been misappropriating customer payments since January 2020 and either altered customer receipts or generated new receipts.
Paul Falzone, owner of North Sherman Street Towing Service, reported the alleged thefts in November.
According to the criminal complaint:
Cicon was a general manager at Falzone’s Towing overseeing daily towing operations, dealing with customers and collecting customer fees associated with towing and storage services, which included generating invoices and receipts.
Falzone employees reported suspicions that customer receipts were altered and that total fees charged to customers were not fully documented, the complaint states.
By reviewing receipts from several customers, the complaint states, Cicon accepted cash and provided receipts, but generated new receipts showing lower payments paid by customers.
Cicon allegedly pocketed between $75 and $550 from each customer for whom he collected payment and altered receipts.
Detectives used decoy clients during the investigation.
One decoy customer paid $780 for towing and storage service while Cicon submitted an internal receipt showing $720 in cash was paid, while another decoy customer paid Cicon $960 for towing service towing and storage when he submitted an internal receipt for $900, the complaint states.
Cicon allegedly used Falzone’s bank/credit cards for personal purchases.
Detectives in the complaint say they recovered $544,951 from a safe and an additional $10,304 with Falzone towing the receipts from Cicon’s residence when the search warrant was served.
Cicon was released on $175,000 unsecured bail after his arraignment Friday.
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