Johnstown contractor and family accused of stealing over $80,000 from homeowners association
WJACTV.com
By: Maria Miller
09 February 2015

A local contractor and his family are in trouble with the law, accused of taking thousands of dollars from a homeowners association he developed nearly a decade ago.

Johnstown contractor Dennis Michaels, his wife Julia and daughter Juliana Zamias were arrested early Monday morning at their Richland Township home – each accused of stealing thousands of dollars from people who live in Skyview Estates, the development constructed by Michaels in 2006.

“They were the officers in charge for the first five years of this association,” said Detective Thomas Keirn of Richland
Township police.

Officers said the three took more than $80,000 from the Homeowners Association account made up of monthly fees to be used for maintenance.

“They collected, paid the bills, did the mowing and did the snowplowing,” said David Mishler, president of the Homeowner’s Association.

But when the work wasn’t done, or homeowners had questions: “We never got answers,” said Mishler. “It was always later. We’ll answer this later, we’ll do this later.”

In fact, Mishler said it wasn’t until he and his fellow officers were elected to the new board in Nov. 2013 that they were able to look at the account and noticed thousands of dollars in financial discrepancies and ordered a forensic audit.

“Some of which were writing checks to themselves for cash, situations where they transferred money from one account to another with no explanation, there were personal expenses that were paid with funds from the association,” said Keirn.

Police said Zamias committed the bulk of the alleged thefts – more than $70,000 worth – including two Kabota tractors police said she took that were owned by the association.

Dennis Michaels is accused of taking more than $9,000 and his wife Julia, a little more than $3,000.

“It all makes sense, I mean, we can see where the money went, where it wasn’t going,” said Mishler. “It should have been going to the treasurer and it was going for other things.”

All three were in jail for only a short time Monday morning until they were arraigned and released on unsecured bail.

In the meantime, the new board has distributed letters to homeowners explaining in detail what happened and their plans for the future.

They said they’ll explain much more at a meeting this weekend. They said they never had meetings before, but will now have them at least once a month.

Accused homeowner association embezzler placed on probation
The Tribune Democrat
By Patrick Buchnowski
14 April 2016

A family allegedly at the center of a scheme to embezzle money from a Richland Township homeowner association have paid back the money – some of it anyway.

Dennis P. Michaels, 57, his wife, Julia S. Michaels, 62, and their daughter Julianna Theresa Zamias, 32, are accused of stealing more than $84,000 from Skyview Estate Homeowner Association from Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 31, 2013, while they were officers of the association.

Dennis Michaels appeared for an accelerated rehabilitative disposition hearing Wednesday before Cambria County Judge David Tulowitzki.

He paid $17,390 to the association before being placed on ARD for nine months for theft by deception, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Green said.

“He paid the full amount that was attributable to him and his wife,” Green said.

If Michaels stays out of trouble while on ARD, his criminal record will be expunged. If he violates probation, his ARD will be revoked and he will be resentenced.

Criminal charges against Julia Michaels were withdrawn.

The case against Zamias appears more complicated.

She is not only accused of stealing the bulk of the money but also driving off with the associations’ two tractors.

Green said Zamias is on the hook for about $82,000.

That amount includes the tractors and $15,000 for a forensic audit done by Wessel and Co., a local accounting firm.

Zamias is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on May 4.

When asked the chances of Zamias paying back all the money, Green was clear.

“It’s the difference between not having a criminal record or being found guilty of felony theft and possibly going to jail,” he said. “So I would think the likelihood is pretty good.

“That’s been my motive all along is to get the (association) their money,” he said.

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Accused homeowners' association embezzler opts for trial rather than ARD program
The Tribune-Democrat
By Patrick Buchnowski
13 July 2016

EBENSBURG – The woman allegedly at the center of a scheme to embezzle money from a Richland Township homeowners’ association will stand trial, likely in October.

Julianna T. Zamias, 32, opted for a trial rather than enter the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program, her Johnstown attorney Caram Abood said.

She was scheduled to appear on Wednesday before Cambria County Judge Patrick Kiniry and be placed into the program for first-time offenders.

“She would have liked to have gone on ARD, but the amount of money (restitution) they’re seeking she disagrees with,” Abood said.

Zamias and her parents, Dennis P. Michaels, 57, and Julia S. Michaels, 62, are accused of stealing more than $84,000 from Skyview Estate Homeowners’ Association from Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 31, 2013, while they were officers of the association.

Prosecutors want Julianna Zamias to pay back $64,000.

Authorities said Dennis Michaels paid $17,390 to the association

before being placed on ARD in April for nine months for theft by deception.

“He paid the full amount that was attributed to him and his wife,” Assistant District Attorney Joseph Green said at the time.

If he stays out of trouble while on ARD, his criminal record will be expunged.

Criminal charges against Julia Michaels were withdrawn.

Green said Julianna Zamias must still pay restitution to the association.

“Going on ARD she was supposed to come up with $64,000,” Green said.

“As of now, she’s listed for trial and she still owes the money.”

The amount includes two tractors she is accused of stealing and $15,000 for a forensic audit done by Wessel & Co., a Johnstown accounting firm.

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Authorities: Richland Township woman paid $53,000 restitution to homeowners' association
The Tribune-Democrat
By Patrick Buchnowski
30 November 2016

A Richland Township woman was placed on probation after she paid back money taken from a homeowners' association, authorities said.

Julianna T. Zamias, 33, paid $53,000 restitution to Skyview Estates Homeowners' Association.

She appeared before Cambria County President Judge Norman Krumenacker III on Nov. 22 and was placed on the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Green said.

"The association is happy they were able to get reimbursement," Green said.

Township police charged Zamias and her parents, Dennis P. Michaels, 57, and Julia S. Michaels, 62, with stealing more than $84,000 from Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 31, 2013, while they were officers in the association.

Dennis Michaels earlier was placed on probation after paying restitution.

Criminal charges against Julia Michaels were withdrawn.

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