W. Brandywine township manager charged with theft

Ronald A. Rambo Jr., 59, who has been township manager of West Brandywine for more than 20 years, has been charged with stealing from the Chester County township.

Rambo, of Coatesville, misappropriated at least $456.30 from the municipality, said District Attorney Thomas P. Hogan.

Linda Formica, assistant to the township manager, said Thursday that Rambo was in his office but unavailable for comment.

Thomas J. McCaffrey, chairman of the board of supervisors, said he was "very disappointed."

He said that although one member of the three-man board wanted to fire Rambo, McCaffrey and the other supervisor "would like to see the extent of whatever has been charged."

The District Attorney's Office has shared "some pieces" of its investigation, McCaffrey said, but had not shown him the results of the investigation and had not advised him of the arrest.

"The district attorney has indicated there is something of a problem," he said, "but the magnitude of that problem, I don't know."

McCaffrey estimated that Rambo earned $120,000 a year from municipal jobs - as township manager, secretary, and treasurer, as well as manager of the municipal authority, which deals with sanitation and sewer matters.

Pursuing a tip, Hogan said in a news release, county detectives found that "the defendant had been confronted with prior instances of misappropriating funds and had agreed to repay the township, but then continued to misappropriate funds."

For example, Hogan cited a March 25, 2010, visit by Rambo's son to a doctor's office. Rambo approved a medical receipt for $15 drawn on township account, then submitted the same receipt two additional times.

at 610-313-8134 or wnaedele@phillynews.com or follow on Twitter @WNaedele.