Asst.Manager Steals $40,000 from Ground Zero Visitors Center

40G 'theft' at 9/11 tribute
By MURRAY WEISS and JOHN DOYLE
Last Updated: 9:12 AM, March 19, 2010

An assistant manager at Ground Zero's visitor center has been charged with stealing $40,500 in donations meant for the center, where relatives of 9/11 victims work tirelessly to tell the story of the terror attacks to visitors from around the world.

Emmanuel Reyes, 25, allegedly swiped the cash while working behind a register at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center at 120 Liberty St., where he was supposed to be ringing up donations and souvenir sales that are needed to keep the center going.

Officials at the visitor center caught on to the Bronx man after an audit showed that the register receipts were coming up short despite his effort to conceal the thefts, authorities said. Cops say he swiped money from August to February.

Once the officials became suspicious of Reyes, surveillance cameras were installed to help catch him red-handed.

Reyes was arrested Monday and released after posting $5,000 bail. He's due back in court today.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/theft_at_tribute_9kEJ96VMNdphJPsWUyCmFP