Host of Ocean Pines FD Fundraiser Convicted of Theft - WBOC-TV 16, Delmarvas News Leader, FOX 21 -

SNOW HILL, Md.- A fundraiser auction for the Ocean Pines Fire Department has led to the arrest and conviction of the event's host for stealing from the department, according to police. 

Jennifer Zadnick, A.K.A., Jennifer Snider, 45, of Ocean City, was convicted on Oct. 18, of theft from $100 to $1,500 in the Snow Hill District Court. 

The Worcester County State's Attorney's Office said Zadnick was contracted by the fire department to host a "quarter auction" at the Ocean Pines Yacht Club in April of 2019. During the auction, guests and fire department officials became suspicious of fraud when they realized certain bid numbers were being drawn far more frequently than others, and that Zadnick’s son was the holder of these winning bid numbers.

Prosecutors said fire department officials contacted the Ocean Pines Police Department to respond, and they determined that Zadnick had duplicated her son’s bid numbers on multiple chips, to make it more likely that he would win.

The total value of the auction items that were stolen by Zadnick as a result of her rigged auction was a total of $530, according to prosecutors. 

A judge scheduled Zadnick's sentencing for Dec. 20, to allow her time to pay $530 in restitution to the fire department. She faces up to six months in jail at her sentencing.