Ex-Walker appointee convicted of stealing $51,000 from veterans

A Milwaukee County jury Friday convicted Kevin Kavanaugh of stealing more than $51,000 from money donated to help veterans and their families.

Prosecutors said the 62-year-old Kavanaugh had skimmed the money from bank deposits and phony withdrawals from accounts for the local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a veterans service organization.

Kavanaugh, of Cudahy, was treasurer of the group.

He didn't testify at the trial and said nothing following the verdict. Sentencing on the felony conviction was sent for Dec. 7. Kavanaugh, who had no prior criminal record, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Kavanaugh's attorney Christopher Hartley said circumstantial evidence in the form of many checks Kavanaugh cashed from Purple Heart funds were difficult to overcome with jurors. No direct evidence was presented showing that Kavanaugh spent the missing money or salted it away for himself, Hartley said.

He argued to jurors that Kavanaugh regularly gave money - a few hundred dollars at a time - to needy veterans.


http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/former-walker-appointee-convicted-of-stealing-51000-from-vets-lo775be-173958721.html


http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/173961091.html