Chamber cuts ties with former director

D.A. still reviewing information

The Crested Butte-Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce has terminated its relationship with executive director Richard Bond. Bond remains under investigation by the Gunnison County sheriff’s office and the district attorney’s office for “banking irregularities” in his position as treasurer of the local Rotary Club and the Red Lady Coalition.

“We felt it was time to cut our ties with Mr. Bond,” said Chamber of Commerce co-president Sarah Morgan. Bond had been on unpaid leave from the position since the investigation began in August.
Bond did not respond to an email asking for comment on the Chamber of Commerce action.
According to Gunnison County sheriff Rick Besecker, the investigation is still ongoing. He said the department had provided some “follow-up” information on the case requested by the district attorney last week.
District attorney Keith Mandelski said he has been given all the information he requested about the case but has yet to do a thorough review to begin compiling it all. No time frame was given by the D.A.’s office on when to expect a decision on how to proceed.
The formal inquiry started after “banking irregularities” were discovered with the Rotary Club’s account in early July. As a result, the financial concerns were reported to the sheriff’s office and the investigation started. A search warrant was served to the Community Banks of Colorado. It appears that approximately $40,000 in funds disappeared from the Rotary account while Bond was acting as treasurer.