Burrell High School boys’ basketball coach Michael Fantuzzo has been arrested in Montgomery County on embezzlement charges and is accused of stealing nearly $250,000 from a nonprofit in the Philadelphia area.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said Monday that Fantuzzo was arrested on multiple felony counts related to the alleged theft of nearly $250,000 from the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association, a nonprofit where he had served as treasurer.
The district attorney’s office said that the missing funds were discovered when a new board of directors was elected and performed a review of the association’s finances.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office announced that Burrell High School boys’ basketball coach Michael Fantuzzo was arrested and charged with multiple felonies in connection with alleged embezzlement of nearly $250,000 from the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association.
Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
Fantuzzo is accused of making unauthorized personal purchases using organization funds between May 2021 and September 2025 that totaled over $246,000.
The district attorney’s office said the purchases included a family trip to Disney World, an Outer Banks vacation rental, country club membership fees, limousine service, purchase and installation of a hot tub at Fantuzzo’s home and payment of local and state property taxes.Â
Fantuzzo turned himself into Montgomery County Detectives last week and is set to face a judge for a preliminary hearing next week.
Burrell superintendent Shannon Wagner told KDKA-TV in a statement that the district was made aware of the arrest and allegations and that Fantuzzo has been relieved of his coaching duties until the outcome of the Montgomery County proceedings.Â
Wagner said that in the meantime, the basketball program will be led by its assistant coach and other volunteers as Burrell is slated to face Belle Vernon Area on Friday night in the first round of the WPIAL 4A Playoffs.
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