Leaders with the Wausau Area Builders Association say their former executive officer cost the agency $150,000.

They're now asking for a criminal investigation.

The Wausau Area Builders Association, which represents and provides benefits to businesses in the building industry, recently sent letters to hundreds of its members, alerting them that they were taking legal action against a former executive officer.

NewsChannel 7 will not name the individual because they have not been charged.

But according to the association's president, Bob Marcell, they agency did a thorough investigation and found the person misappropriated WABA funds for their personal use.

The person is accused of failing to pay expenses, including taxes and other bills.

"It's never a good thing and you always wonder why people do it," Marcell said.

Initially, Marcell says the executive agreed to work with the association and pay back what was owed, but the executive has since stopped communicating with WABA's attorney.

According to WABA calculations, the executive's conduct cost the association in excess of $150,000.

Marcell says it's unfortunate what happened, but it was important to the board that WABA's members know what's going on.

"Always concerned if it's the right thing or wrong thing to do. I think it's the right thing at this point," Marcell said.

Marcell says the board of directors has turned over their information to the district attorney's office.

NewsChannel 7 contacted the district attorney's office, but they have not confirmed an investigation. That doesn't necessarily mean there isn't one, but that no public records have been made.