FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2026
PITTSBURGH — Joseph Massaro, 46, of Clairton, is facing charges of receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking and misapplication of entrusted funds for allegedly stealing over $35,000 from the City of Clairton’s Volunteer Fire Department (VFD).
According to the criminal complaint, Massaro served as the treasurer for the Clairton VFD since 2016, with sole access to two of the department’s financial accounts. In early 2025, the board president discovered missing funds and a number of cash withdrawals from the department’s bank account.
Throughout the investigation, officials uncovered various transactions from 2018 to 2025, including 103 purchases from Amazon, 110 payments to Home Depot, 5 payments to Capital One and multiple ATM cash withdrawals, allegedly used for Massaro’s personal benefit.
The total amount of funds allegedly stolen is $36, 906.67.
An accused is presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law.
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The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office serves approximately 1.2 million people and is one of the largest jurisdictions in the United States of America at 740 sq. miles. It employs over 200 employees, including over 100 attorneys, detectives, crime scene analysts and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office serves as the Chief Law Enforcement Office of the county and accepts referrals from more than 100 active police departments, including the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Allegheny County Police Department and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department. For more information, visit alleghenycountyda.us.
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Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office