Bethlehem’s former finance director sentenced to probation
Bethlehem’s former finance director was sentenced to a year of probation after pleading guilty to theft, a charge stemming from a scheme in which he used his position to buy electronics on the city’s dime and sell them for a profit.
Mark Sivak on Tuesday pleaded guilty to theft by unlawful taking, a third-degree felony, admitting that he had taken and/or sold property city property valued at $17,855. which included 31 cellphones and other electronic devices.
Sivak must pay restitution, with credit given for $12,630 he has already paid. He must also reimburse the city an additional $12,132 for expenses to cover the cost of its investigation, and he is not eligible to receive a pension from the city.
Sivak was immediately sentenced by Northampton County Judge Anthony Beltrami.
In a statement the Northampton County district attorney’s office said Sivak’s sentence “was in recognition of having no prior criminal history and his immediate police cooperation and acknowledgement of liability for his wrongful conduct,” along with his immediate payment of initial restitution and acceptance of the city’s total restitution claim.
City officials supported the plea deal.
“Somebody being in that place of public trust, to act the way they acted and to do those things, it was something we felt strongly to see to the end,” George Yasso, Bethlehem’s
controller, said Tuesday at a city budget hearing. “It took way longer and way more continuances than we thought and this morning was a satisfying morning.”
City officials uncovered Sivak’s scheme in January 2022. He was charged five months later with multiple counts of felony theft and fired from his position.
Authorities said Sivak used the city’s PayPal account to move money into his personal account to avoid paying taxes on the used electronics equipment he sold as a side job. He also ordered dozens of cellphones on a city account and resold them for $12,630.
He spent another $2,500 in city funds on audio equipment, virtual reality headsets and other items for personal use.