PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh attorney and former president of the nonprofit group that operates the city’s Duquesne Incline has been charged with embezzling more than $1.3 million from the organization.
Christopher Furman, 53, was indicted by a grand jury on 10 counts of wire fraud and money laundering, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania said in a press release on Thursday, March 19. The indictment alleges that between October 2024 and September 2025, he transferred approximately $1.38 million from the accounts of the Society for the Preservation of the Duquesne Height Incline to his own accounts, and used that money to trade in cryptocurrency.
Furman had been named president of the preservation society’s board of trustees in 2020, but was not authorized to view or use its bank accounts, the attorney’s office says. The organization, founded in 1964, helped restore the incline — a funicular railway dating to 1877 that climbs 400 vertical feet on a 30.5% grade on an 794-foot, 5-foot-gauge track. The group continues to operate and maintain the popular tourist attraction.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain, or both. Each money laundering count caries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a similar fine.
In a statement reported by WTAE-TV, the society said it had discovered “discrepancies within financial records” and notified authorities, and had cooperated fully with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“The Society is thankful for the dedicated and thorough handling of these matters by these entities,” the statement reads. “The historic Duquesne Incline remains fully operational and The Society continues the mission of preservation. On advice of counsel, Sarah Krolikowski, Esquire, The Society will make no further comments to maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation and prosecution.”
More information on the Duquesne Incline is available at the society’s website.
— To report news or errors, contact trainsnewswire@firecrown.com.
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