The former executive director of the Cambria County Bar Association has been charged with embezzling over $300,000, which reportedly went toward cosmetic surgery, vacations, and even her own family's nonprofit. According to a statement from Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Robin Hagins, 56, of Johnstown, faced charges on Wednesday. The charges include theft by unlawful taking, misappropriation of funds received, and forgery, all tied to the alleged financial misconduct that spanned five years.
Bail for Hagins was set at $150,000 unsecured after an investigation by the Office of Attorney General, which included work from the 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Jury. It is alleged that the attorney lived beyond her means, indulging in personal luxuries and funneling funds to "Cuddles for Kids," a charity started by her relatives. As the Attorney General's Office reported, Hagins had no other source of income to cover such expenses.
Uncovering the misuse of funds started with a bank overdraft notice, which caused the Cambria County Bar Association (CCBA) to deep-dive into their financial statements. There, they found overpayments to Hagins alongside multiple overdrafts, insufficient funds incidents, and a mysterious monthly auto-debit. This discovery ultimately led to the referral of the case by the Cambria County District Attorney's Office to the state Attorney General.
Throughout the investigation, it was also unveiled that Hagins had used association money to pay for Cuddles for Kids events without the necessary authorization. "The defendant’s alleged actions betrayed the trust of the Bar Association while enabling herself to live a lavish lifestyle with someone else’s funds," Attorney General Sunday said in a statement. The fraudulent payments totaling $314,759 to Hagins were made from 2018 through 2023 and have set the legal community buzzing with the scandal.
