Arrest warrant issued for former Buffalo Chamber CEO

BUFFALO -- An arrest warrant has been issued by the Johnson County Circuit Court for the arrest of Angela N. Fox – formerly the CEO of the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce.
Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney has filed three felony theft charges against Fox for making unauthorized personal charges in excess of $8,600 on the Chamber of Commerce’s credit cards.
“There’s a level of trust in a small community like Johnson County,” said Chamber Board Secretary/Treasurer Cindy Kremers. “When that trust is broken, it is devastating. As members of the board, we were all heartbroken. The citizens and businesses of Buffalo had entrusted us with their hospitality, volunteerism and moneys and we failed to safeguard those assets.”
Court documents allege that on April 6, 2014 through Nov. 18, 2015, Fox made unauthorized personal charges on the Chamber credit cards in the amount of $3,115.45 – a felony. Count two alleges that felony theft occurred Jan. 7, 2016 through June 9, 2016, also through unauthorized personal charges made on the Chamber credit card in the amount of $3,563. The third count alleges that felony theft through personal charges on the Chamber credit card were made by Fox on or about Jan. 8, 2017 through June 8, 2017, in the amount of $1,945.64.
Each count is felony theft and carries a penalty of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than a $10,000 or both.
According to the affidavit, Kremers began to investigate the use of a Chamber credit card to pay for liquor at the Occidental Hotel on the night of Fox’s wedding to her husband, Thomas Gabrukiewicz, on New Year’s Eve 2015.
Kremers and Chamber board member Judi Holmes sat down and reviewed the credit card statements with Fox, comparing line items with calendars and the events. Fox first denied using Chamber funds for her wedding according to the court documents. After more review by Kremers and Holmes, Fox admitted to spending Chamber money on personal items including shoes and at Petco and the Tasting Library in Sheridan, according to the affidavit.
An executive session board meeting was held July 20, 2017, requesting Fox’s resignation. During that meeting Fox confessed to using Chamber funds for her wedding but she also told the board that she had made two payments back to the Chamber. Kremers was unable to locate any payment, restitution or deposit that was made or paid back to the Chamber, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, a termination letter was presented to Fox, who agreed to the terms. The board agreed to pay Fox’s salary until Aug. 31, 2017, which amounted to $7,075, along with her health insurance until the end of August.
Other charges to the Chamber credit card include a $900 charge to Belle En Blanc, a wedding boutique located in Billings, Montana; a $695 charge to Johan Jewelry; a $1,846 charge to the Occidental Hotel; and a $732 charge to the Roosevelt Hotel and Spa, located in New Orleans. There were also charges for two airline tickets purchased for Fox’s husband, Gabrukiewicz, who was not an employee of the Chamber but traveled with Fox, totaling $1,041.60, according to the affidavit.
A forensic audit was completed by Porter, Muirhead, Cornia & Howard, an accounting firm that performs forensic audits.
The results of the audit were summarized in an email to investigators.
“We found charges in the amount of $8,624.09 which appear to represent personal expenses made on Ms. Angela Jarvis Fox’s Chamber credit cards without reimbursement being made to the Chamber,” Alexandra H. Wilkison, a certified personal accountant, who performed the forensic audit, wrote.
An arrest warrant was issued on Jan. 22, for Fox’s arrest. At the time of publication an arrest had not yet been made. According to her Facebook page, Fox is currently living in Cheyenne.