Embezzlement Probe Focuses on Former Congressman's Campaign Manager

Former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays' campaign filed a report Friday with the Federal Elections Committee claiming that funds "may have been embezzled," the Connecticut Post reports.

The report is the latest development in the embezzlement probe that began last November when Shays' former campaign manager Michael Sohn came under investigation for allegedly stealing $300,000 from his re-election campaign.

The newly-filed "end-of-year" report shows a $273,787 difference in spending from the "post-general election" report filed in December when Shays' campaign first expressed its concern, according to the paper.

Just last week, Shays filed a formal complaint with the FEC against Sohn for his alleged role in the embezzlement. Shays was subpoenaed in December by a grand jury investigating the missing funds.

"The FBI has been informed and has begun a criminal investigation," Shays' campaign treasurer, Ralph DePanfilis, reportedly stated in the newly-filed FEC report.

"Consistent with the needs of law enforcement, the Committee is attempting to determine the nature and extent of the embezzlement. At this time, however, neither the Committee nor the treasurer can affirm that the information in this report is complete or accurate," DePanfilis said.

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