Christopher Furman’s Embezzlement Case: Charges and Incline Impact

Christopher P. Furman, a 53-year-old Pittsburgh attorney and former president of the nonprofit that operates the Duquesne Incline, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2026, on ten counts of wire fraud and money laundering. The Christopher Furman embezzlement case centers on allegations that he moved roughly $1,379,300 from the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Heights Incline into his personal bank account between October 2024 and September 2025, then used the money to trade cryptocurrency for personal profit.¹

Who Furman Is and How He Got Access

Furman was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar on November 21, 2002, and had no prior disciplinary history as of the date of his indictment.² Before joining the board, he had worked as an employee of the Duquesne Incline and knew its mechanical operations firsthand. That background, combined with his legal training, led the Society to elect him president of its board of trustees in 2020.³

He was also employed by the Clarion County law firm Gabriel Fera. After the indictment, a firm representative said Furman was no longer employed there and that the alleged conduct “had no connection to his employment” at the firm.⁴

What Prosecutors Say He Did

According to the federal indictment, Furman was never authorized to view the Society’s bank accounts or to spend its money on personal purposes, despite his position as board president. Over roughly eleven months, prosecutors allege, he made more than 25 electronic transfers pulling approximately $1,379,300 from the nonprofit’s accounts into his personal Citizens Bank account.¹⁵

From there, the money allegedly went to Coinbase, where Furman bought and sold digital assets for personal profit. The indictment treats those trades as money laundering on the theory that the funds used to buy the assets were proceeds of wire fraud.⁶

The Federal Charges and What He Faces

The ten-count indictment was returned in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Each wire fraud count carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain from the offense, whichever is greater. Each money laundering count carries up to 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value of the criminally derived property.¹

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting the case, and the FBI ran the investigation. Furman is the only defendant named; no co-conspirators have been charged.¹

How the Case Was Uncovered and Where It Stands

The scheme came to light when the Society itself spotted discrepancies in its financial records and notified authorities. The FBI took over from there.³ After the indictment, Furman was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond, with arraignment scheduled for March 25, 2026.⁶ He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

What It Means for the Duquesne Incline

The Society removed Furman as board president at the start of the investigation and barred him from any further involvement. It retained attorney Sarah Krolikowski and has been cooperating with federal investigators and prosecutors.⁷

The incline itself is still running. The Society said in a statement that “the historic Duquesne Incline remains fully operational and The Society continues the mission of preservation.” No service cuts, emergency fundraising, civil suits, or insurance claims tied to the loss have been publicly reported.⁶⁷

1
U.S. Department of Justice. Pittsburgh Attorney Charged With Embezzling More Than $1.3 Million From Incline Preservation Society
2
Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board. Attorney Detail – Christopher P. Furman
3
WTAE Pittsburgh. Duquesne Incline President Indicted
4
ExploreClarion.com. Attorney Who Served as Clarion County Planning Commission Solicitor Indicted for $1.3M Duquesne Incline Embezzlement
5
TribLive. Pittsburgh Attorney Indicted for Embezzling $1.4 Million From Duquesne Incline Group
6
CBS News Pittsburgh. Former Duquesne Incline Board President Charged With Embezzlement
7
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Duquesne Incline Embezzlement Christopher Furman Pittsburgh Lawyer