Roanoke County employee charged with embezzlement

ROANOKE COUNTY (WSLS 10) - Police charged a Roanoke County library employee with one count of embezzlement after multiple technology items were discovered missing.

On Saturday, Marino Hildebran Rancier Sosa, was charged by Roanoke County police. The stolen equipment is valued at $10,196.

Sosa has been employed as the electronic services specialist for the county's library department since 2004.

"While the County is fortunate to have an exceptional workforce committed to serving the public, there are those who, unfortunately, will choose to disregard the trust placed in them by the public," said Gates in a press release. "Unethical, illegal behavior that violates the public trust will never be tolerated."

As a result of a recent routine internal audit of the county's library department, it was discovered that several items, including four iMac computers and two iPad tablets, listed as having recently been purchased by the county for use by the Department, could not be found.

On October 13, Library Director Diana Rosapepe contacted county administration and indicated the missing equipment had still not been found.

The next day, an internal auditor interview of staff responsible for managing the department's technology equipment raised concern that some of the missing equipment was no longer in the possession of the county.

The auditor, at the direction of County Administrator Thomas Gates, contacted the Roanoke County Police Department and requested an investigation into the missing equipment. The employee assigned responsibility for managing equipment inventory in the library was placed on administrative leave, pending further investigation.

Police will continue to investigate.