Former California Resident Arrested For Embezzling $100K From Restaurant

Michelle Marie Mendizabal, 38, recently of Lake Elsinore, California has been arrested in Arizona and is awaiting extradition on charges she embezzled more than $100,000 from Tom’s Farms Old Fashioned Hamburgers where she had been employed as manager.  The misappropriations spanned as long as 8 years, according to authorities.  Mendizabal reportedly fled to Arizona to avoid prosecution in October.

Read the story here and here.

Read the Sheriff's release here.

Update (6/30/12): Mendizabal has pleaded guilty to embezzling what is now understood to be more than $200,000 from Tom’s Farms Old Fashioned Hamburgers. 

Church Secretary In Wisconsin Charged With Embezzling $217K

Darlene Vodvarka, 57, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin has been charged with embezzling $217,483 from the St. Matthew Catholic Church where she had served as church secretary.  Authorities allege that over a 7 year period, from June 2004 through June 2011, Vodvarka took cash and check receipts from proceeds generated from "scrip" sales - gift cards and the like.  Authorities also allege that Vodvarka attempted to conceal the fraud by falsifying the church's books.  Specifically, Vodvarka has been charged with two counts of felony theft of more than $10,000.  She had been church secretary for 14 years.

Read the story here, here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Update (3/1/12): Vodvarka is now being sued in civil court by St. Matthew Catholic Church of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, along with her husband, Edward Vodvarka, alleging fraud, theft, conversion and unjust enrichment.  The suit is seeking recovery of what the church alleges is more than $400,000.  The embezzlement is now believed to date back to at least 2000.  Vodvarka plead guilty last month in the criminal case and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2012.

Update (3/20/12): Vodvarka has been sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty last month to two charges of felony theft.

California Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $100K From Dental Office

Deborah Lynn Kessler, 45, of Canyon Lake, California has pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled more than $100,000 from Todd Engel's dentistry office for which she had been employed as office manager.  Kessler is believed to have forged dental insurance payment checks received by the practice for her own benefit.  She was originally charged with suspicion of forgery and grand theft.

Read the story here and here.

Michigan Man Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $1 Million

Ralph Edward Staelgraeve, 45, of Conway Township, Michigan, has been accused of embezzling nearly $1 million from Pasta Per Trio where he had been employed as director of Michigan operations.  Authorities allege that Staelgraeve siphoned funds from the company by cashing rebate checks, among other schemes.  Staelgraeve allegedly spent more than $300,000 at the casino.  An investigation has been proceeding for the past 2 years which is purported to prove that Staelgraeve stole at least $700,000, although the sum is believed to be closer to $1 million.

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Best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Federal Grand Jury Considering Indictment In $500K Embezzlement In Vermont

A federal grand jury is considering an indictment in an alleged $500,000 embezzlement case involving Brault’s Mobile Homes Inc., which reported the case to authorities last spring.  No indictment has been issued and a suspect has not yet been publicly disclosed.  This is yet another major embezzlement case in Vermont which has been plagued by a series of these frauds in the past several years, in spite of its relatively small population and economy. 

Read the story here.

Read this article in the Burlington Free Press entitled, Private firms, auditors watching, but not seeing" with regard to the spate of embezzlement cases in Vermont in recent years.

FraudTalk has chronicled 14 major embezzlement cases in Vermont in the past 2 1/2 years.

California Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $100K From Nuns

Linda Gomez, 65, of Sunnyvale, California, has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000 from the Sisters of the Holy Names Convent where she had been employed as food services director.  According to authorities, over a period of about 2 1/2 years, from March 2008 through May 2010, Gomez used convent credit cards to make personal purchases of goods, some of which she returned for cash refunds. 

Read the story here.

Alabama Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling Nearly $100K From Union

Graven LeeVon Townsend, 51, of Millbrook, Alabama has pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $100,000 from the Steelworkers Local 462 where he had served as secretary-treasurer.  According to authorities, over a period of about 3 years, from 2006 until September 2009, Townsend wrote at least 149 checks totaling $98,970 from the union payable to himself or to cash for his own benefit.

Read the story here and here.

Connecticut Woman Pleads Guity To Embezzling More Than $1.5 Million

Joanne Topolski Osmolik, 51, of Newtown, Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled more than $1.5 million from Latex International, where she had been employed as vice president for human resources.  According to prosecutors, Osmolik and a co-worker used corporate credit cards for personal expenditures over an unspecified period of time, then covered it up with fraudulent expense reports.  As part of her plea agreement, Osmolik must forfeit her stake in three residential properties in Vermont, six motorcycles, four snowmobiles and jewelry.  She is due to be sentenced in March 2012.  Osmolik had been employed by Latex International for six years in various HR capacities, according to her LinkedIn profile. 

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Update (2/29/12): Former Latex International CEO Kevin Coleman, 51, pleaded guilty to charges he embezzlement more than $1.7 million from the company over a period of 5 years, from November 2005 through December 2010.  Coleman and Osmolik apparently colluded to fleece the company in a brazen manner.  Coleman reportedly used some of the ill-gotten gains to buy diamonds and Harley-Davidson paraphernalia.

Update (4/25/12): Osmolik, now 52, has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for embezzling what is now believed to be $1,777,791 from Latex International.

Update (7/12/12): Coleman was sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison for his role in fleecing Latex International out of $1.7 million to finance "an absurdly extravagant lifestyle."

Wisconsin Woman Accused Of Embezzling $100K

Christine Swan, 48, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, who has been accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from Crossroads USA, a local auto dealership, is reportedly seeking a plea agreement with prosecutors.  According to authorities, Swan, who was employed as office manager for the dealership, created phony inventories to obtain loans from M&I Bank which she converted to her own benefit.  She has been charged with one felony count of fraud against a financial institution.

Read the story here and here.

Update (2/21/12): Swan pleaded no contest and has been convicted of a Class H felony as a consequence.  She faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison, plus restitution.

Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $350K To Finance Lifestyle

Margaret Connor, 56, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to one year in jail for embezzling about $350,000 from a local medical practice where she had been employed as office manager.  According to authorities, Connor wrote more than 150 checks from company accounts for her own benefit and subsequently made false bookkeeping entries in an attempt to conceal the misappropriations.  Connor reportedly used the stolen money to finance her lifestyle including to pay for personal travel, dining, clothing, furniture, jewelry and her mortgage and utility bills, among other things.  Connor has also been ordered to pay $350,000 in restitution and will serve 10 years probation following her jail time.  Connor, who was originally indicted in March 2011, pleaded guilty to charges of larceny over $250 by continuous scheme and false entries in corporate books.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

California Man Pleads Is Sentenced For Embezzling $825K From Travel Companies To Support Lavish Lifestyle

Jeremy Kealoha Belisario, 38, formerly of Irvine, California, has pleaded guilty to charges he embezzled some $825,000 from two travel companies he had worked for as travel manager, including TravelCorp USA and another unnamed family own travel business.  Belisario was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in state prison and ordered to pay restitution and fines of more than $2.6 million.   Authorities alleged that between June 2006 and March 2008, Belisario made numerous fraudulent purchases with company credit accounts for luxury travel and to purchase personal luxury items, among other things.  Meanwhile, the small family run travel business, which he hit for $800,000, was forced to lay off 15 employees and cut pay for the remainder in order to survive.  Belisario pleaded guilty to grand theft by an employee and fraudulently using an access card, two counts of grand theft, two counts of identity theft, two counts of acquiring access card information without permission, one count of embezzlement by an employee, and admitted to sentencing enhancements for aggravated white-collar crime of more than $500,000 and property damage of more than $150,000.

Read the story here and here.

Tennessee Woman Indicted On Charges She Embezzled More Than $1.5 Million

Karen Little-Tripp, believed to be 47, of Eads, Tennessee, has been indicted on one count of Bank Fraud in connection with an alleged embezzlement scheme that netted more than $1.5 million from Seiler-Nabors Construction Company where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to prosecutors, over a period of as much as five years, Tripp wrote numerous checks from company accounts for her own benefit to support a lavish lifestyle.  Meanwhile, the company struggled financially, laying off more than 20 employees before filing for bankruptcy.  Trip also funnelled company money into her antiques business, Town Square Antiques, according to reports. 

Read the story here and here.

Update (5/7/12): Little-Tripp has pleaded guilty to embezzling $1.5 million from Seiler-Nabors Construction Company where she had been employed over a 4 year period as a bookkeeper.

Louisiana Woman Accused Of Embezzling $130K From School Board Association

Doris Flemming Butler, 49, of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been accused of embezzling more than $130,000 from the Louisiana School Board Association where she had been employed.  Details of the investigation have yet to be released.  However, an audit revealed that over a 7 year period, from 2003 until 2011, some $130,212.89 was misappropriated. 

Developing...

Read the story here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $166K From Minnesota Real Estate Concern

Kathleen Cicmil, 56, formerly of Hibbing, Minnesota and currently of Palm Desert, California, has been sentenced to 21 months in state prison for embezzling $166,219.12 from Perrella and Associates, a real estate and appraisal service where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, over a period of four years, from 2005 to 2009, Cicmil siphoned funds from the company.  Nevertheless, she is believed to have embezzled more than $300,000 from the firm from between 1998 and 2009, but the statute of limitations did not allow for the entire loss to be included.  Cicmil had been employed by the firm for 18 years.   She was also ordered to pay restitution.  Cicmil was originally charged in December 2009 and plead guilty last month to one count of theft by swindle. 

Read the story here, here and here.

Former Bank Officer In Missouri Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $450K

Troy W. Posten, 42, of Crocker, Missouri, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for embezzling $451,763.46 from the Bank of Crocker where he had been employed as a loan officer.  According to authorities, over a period of 4 years, from May 2004 until May 2008, Posten fraudulently obtained loans, lines of credit, and funds from bank customers’ accounts without their knowledge or approval.  Posten reportedly used the misappropriated funds for his own benefit, including paying off personal loans and obligations.  He pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud last July.  Posten, who is reportedly a former Richland school board member, has also been barred from working in the financial services industry.

Read the story here and here.

Pennsylvania Woman Charged With Embezzling $186K From Orchestra

Phyllis Ann (LoPresti) Shoff, 55, formerly of Dover Township, Pennsylvania and currently of Cumberland, Pennsylvania has been charged with embezzling about $186,000 from the York Symphony Orchestra where she had been employed as office manager.  According to authorities, over a period of nearly 4 years, from July 2007 to May 2011, Shoff used several different schemes to siphon funds from the orchestra for her own benefit.  She is believed to have issued checks to her own benefit, among other means of theft.  Shoff reportedly used the misappropriated funds to support a gambling problem.  She has been charged with five counts of theft by deception and two counts of access device fraud.  Shoff had been the office manager for the York Symphony Orchestra for about 8 years. 

Read the story here and here.

Update (4/6/12): Shoff, now 56, has pleaded guilty to more than what is now understood to be $200,000 from the York Symphony Orchestra. 

Washington State Man Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $165K

Ricky L. Bryant, 53, of Wenatchee, Washington, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for embezzling more than $165,000 from Blind Renaissance Design in East Wenatchee, Washington, where he had been employed as a part-time bookkeeper.  According to authorities, over the course of about 7 years, from 2004 until the spring of 2011, Bryant wrote checks to himself from company accounts and altered the books in an effort to cover up his thefts.  Bryant, who was originally charged with first degree theft last April and plead guilty in October, faces up to 10 years in prison.  The company reportedly sued Bryant in civil court to recoup the losses, but he filed for bankruptcy over the summer.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Former Municipal Golf Director In Tennessee Pleads Guilty To Embezzling Nearly $100K

Faye Randolph, 48, of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled nearly $100,000 from the Eagle's Landing Golf Club in Sevierville where she had served as director.  According to authorities, over the course of more than 2 years, from at least January 1, 2008 to March 14, 2010, Randolph siphoned funds from the golf course by creating fictitious refunds for golf rounds and pocketing the cash.  She pleaded guilty to official misconduct, destroying and tampering with governmental records and theft of more than $60,000.  Rudolph, who was originally indicted last January, will be sentenced next April and faces at least 8 years in prison.

Read the story here, here and here.

North Carolina Woman - Wife Of County Judge - Sentenced For Embezzling $102K From Law Firm Client

Susanne Marie Crotty, 44, of Arden, North Carolina, was sentenced to 4 months in prison for embezzling $102,000 from an elderly client of The Van Winkle Law Firm where she had been employed as a legal assistant.  Crotty is the wife of Buncombe County district court judge Edwin D. Clontz.  Crotty had pleaded guilty to felony charges of embezzlement, financial card fraud, obtaining property by false pretense, and writing and using forged checks.  Crotty has also been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $26,460 since the bulk of the loss was covered by insurance.

Read the story here.

Virginia Couple Accused Of Embezzling $2.5 Million From Real Estate Concern

Terri Lynn Nagy-Phillips, 40, and her husband, Craig Phillips, 41, both of Portsmouth, Virginia, have been arrested and charged with embezzling about $2.5 million from Continental Realty Service where Terri Nagy-Phillips had been employed.  According to authorities, over a period of nearly 4 years, from at least January 2007 through October 2011, Nagy-Phillips siphoned funds from company accounts through a series of unauthorized credit card and other transactions.  She has been charged with Embezzlement, Credit Card Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.  Craig Phillips has been charged with Embezzlement and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony.  Police executed a search warrant and successfully recovered numerous luxury items including including seven luxury vehicles, jewelry, a Harley Davidson motorcycle and one trailer.

Read the story here and here.

Update (7/13/12): Terri Lynn Nagy-Phillips and Craig Phillips entered guilty pleas to one count each of conspiracy and wire fraud for embezzling what is now believed to be about $2.8 million.  According to authorities, the couple caused $2.3 million in company checks to be deposited in the Phillips' bank accounts or written to businesses to pay for goods and services bought by the couple. They also executed fraudulent wire transactions to pay for more than $500,000 in unauthorized charges to the company's credit card.

Calfornia Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $185K From Engineering Firm

Alexis Ann Pate, 34, of Camarillo, California, has pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled more than $184,000 from M3 Civil Inc., a local engineering firm where she had been employed as office manager.  According to authorities, over a period of nearly 6 years, from April 2005 to January 2011, Pate misappropriated funds from the firm.  Specifically, Pate pleaded guilty to three counts of felony grand theft. 

Read the story here.

Read the DA's announcement here.

Oklahoma Woman Sentenced In $1 Million Embezzlement Case

Pamela J. Whitson, 59, of Norman, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for embezzling nearly $1 million from Robert L. Scott Oil & Gas Exploration where she had been employed as office manager.  According to authorities, over a period of six years, from 2002 to 2008, Whitson siphoned funds from the company by executing fraudulent checks for her own benefit.  Media reports suggest that Whitson spent much of the ill-gotten gains at local casinos.  Whitson was also ordered to pay $965,000 in restitution and $252,000 to the IRS on back taxes from the stolen funds.

Read the story here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Michigan Woman Accused Of Embezzling $436K From Funeral Home

Erica Cederberg Kaznowski, 41, of Bay City, Michigan, has been charged with embezzling at least $436,000 from pre-paid receipts and insurance premiums for funeral services of clients of Stapish-Cederberg Funeral Homes where she had been employed as business manager.  According to authorities, over a six and a half year period, from January 2005 through June 2011, Kaznowski converted pre-payments and insurance premium payments for her own benefit instead of escrowing them as required.  Kaznowski has been charged with one count of racketeering and seven counts of embezzlement. 

Read the story here.

California Woman Accused Of Embezzling $470K From Bookkeeping Clients

Paige Jones Hibbits, 69, recently of Camarillo, California, has been charged with embezzling at least $470,000 from several bookkeeping clients of her business, Jones Hibbits, LLC, including Scarborough Farms Inc. of Oxnard, California.  According to authorities, Hibbits has used a variety of aliases, including Pearl Hibbits, Pearl Klenoski, Pearl Jones, Paige Jones, and Pearl McClelland.  Prosecutors allege that Hibbits executed more than 50 fraudulent transactions, including fraudulent checks and electronic funds transfers for her own benefit over a 2 year period.  Specifically, Hibbits has been charged with felony counts including forgery, money laundering, grand theft, computer fraud and aggravated white collar crime.  Media reports indicate that Hibbits has previous a felony conviction in 2004 for embezzlement and forgery.  She was also arrested in 1990 for assault with a deadly weapon and spent time in state prison.  Ironically, Hibbits was named the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce's Woman of the Year in 2010.

Read the story here.

Texas Man Charged With Embezzling $155K From Louisiana Company

Richard Sharp, 44, of Pearland, Texas, has been charged with embezzling about $155,000 from GDH International of Covington, Louisiana where he was one of the principal shareholders.  Details of the misappropriation have not yet been released.

Developing...

Read the story here, here and here.

Michigan Man Accused Of Embezzling $110K To Finance Lottery Purchases

Steve Sharrard, 47, of Waterford Township, Michigan, has been charged with embezzling some $110,000 from Moote Electric, where he had been employed as a bookkeeper for the past ten years.  According to authorities, Sharrard siphoned the funds by converting cash receipts over the past year.  Authorities believe that much of the misappropriated monies were used to purchase lottery tickets. 

Read the story here.

Virginia Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $1.2 Million From West Virginia Casino & Racetrack

Anita Ambler, aka Anita Webb, 48, of Reva, Virginia, has been charged with embezzling more than $1.2 million from West Virginia's Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, over a period of 5 years, from 2005 to 2010, Ambler siphoned funds from the resort by removing cash from the horsemen's account "for her own benefit and use." Ambler also forged checks, made false deposits, and fraudulently issued checks in the names of family members and a business she owned called "Forgotten Farms."  Specifically, Ambler has been charged with 21 counts of mail fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud and six counts of using criminal proceeds for a transaction.

Read the story here and here.

Update (4/29/13): Ambler, now 49, was found guilty by a federal jury of 11 counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud and four counts of transacting in criminal proceeds.

2 Former California Municipal Workers Accused In $635K Embezzlement From Mosquito Control Agency

Two California woman, including Joann Seeney, aka JoAnn Dearman, 60, of Pacifica, California and a second, unnamed individual have been accused of embezzling more than $635,000 from the San Mateo County Vector Control District where Seeney had been employed as district finance manager.  Both have been terminated and the former, Seeney, is currently serving a 32 month sentence for a separate embezzlement case involving the theft of some $568,000 in fraudulent credit card charges from a private medical imaging company in Foster City, California, to finance a lavish lifestyle.  Authorities believe the misappropriations from the Vector Control District principally ocurred between 2010 and 2011.  Seeney was also accused of embezzling about $50,000 from yet another company.  Apparently criminal background checks were never conducted on Seeney.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (12/21/11): The second employee has been identified as Vika Sinipata, 35, a former accounting supervisor for the San Mateo County Vector Control District.  Sinipata was arraigned on Tuesday on eight felony counts of embezzling public money.  She did not enter a plea.

Former Ohio Bank Officer Sentenced For Embezzling $518K

Lisa K. Coon, 52, of Ashville, Ohio, has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for embezzling at least $518,535 from The Citizens Bank of Ashville where she had been employed as a vice president.  According to authorities, over a period of about 6 years, from 2005 and early 2011, Coon executed at least 180 fraudulent transactions including issuing checks and making electronic transfers from customer bank accounts for her own benefit.  Coon also allegedly sent falsified bank statements to depositors to cover up the misappropriations from bank customers.  According to Coon's attorney, Joseph Scott, Coon suffered from a shopping addiction and “was buying things she really didn’t need.”  According to media reports, Coon was a "pillar of the community" involved in a variety of charities and philanthropic activities locally.

Read the story here, here and here.

Rhode Island Woman Charged With Embezzling $198K From Local Marina

Maureen Claire Rondeau, 42, of North Kingston, Rhode Island, has been charged with embezzling about $198,000 from Brewers Wickford Cove Marina where she had been employed as office manager.  According to authorities, over a period of about 2 years, from 2009 to 2011, Rondeau issued at least 75 fraudulent checks from the Marina's coffers for her own benefit.

Read the story here.

Read the police report here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Idaho Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $429K From Grocery Store

Jasen W. Johnson, 50, of Sandpoint, Idaho, pleaded guilty to charges he embezzled about $429,000 from the Family Foods grocery store in Oldtown, Idaho.  According to authorities, Johnson converted cash receipts over a period of 7 years, from 2002 - 2009.  Johnson was ordered to pay $102,000 in restitution.

Read the story here.

Ohio YMCA Reported Victim Of $100K Embezzlement Scheme

The YMCA of Central Stark County, Ohio, has reported an embezzlement of at least $100,000 from its North Canton Child Care Center by an unnamed employee.  The misappropriation has been reported to local authorities who are investigating the thefts which spanned more than 7 years, from August 2004 through November 2011.

Developing...

Read the story here.

Former Utah Transit Authority Board Member Accused Of Embezzling More Than $2 Million

Terry C. Diehl, 56, of Salt Lake City, Utah, has been accused of embezzling more than $2 million from South Mountain L.C. and GEM/Group Estates Management Inc., two companies for which had served as president.  Diehl and his company, Wasatch Pacific, have been sued in civil court by the companies and their owner, Yoshimitsu Mugishima, accusing him of misappropriating the funds and placing them into a retirement fund for his own benefit.  The funds were part of a 2009 land deal and the transfers made over a three month period in late 2009.

Read the story here.

New Jersey Man Accused Of Embezzling $1.6 Million Via Fraudulent Billing Schemes

George Ortega, 50, of Kinnelon, New Jersey, has been charged with embezzling some $1.6 million from ARGIX Direct, doing business as Passport CFS Logistics where he had been employed.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 8 1/2 years, from January 2003 through May 2011, Ortega employed a variety of fraudulent vendor and billing schemes to siphon funds from the company.  For example, Ortega allegedly created a phony vendor to which fraudulent payments were made.  Another scheme involved co-conspirators at actual vendors who were paid or overpaid for work not performed from which Ortega benefited.  Ortega has been charged with one felony count each of financial facilitation of criminal activity, theft by deception, and misconduct by a corporate official.

Read the story here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Former Accountant For Wisconsin Union Expected To Plead Guilty To Embezzling $441K

Sandra E. Jungbluth, 38, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is expected to plead no contest to charges she embezzled about $441,500 from the Wisconsin Operating Engineers for which she administered funds.  Jungbluth was an accountant with Carday Associates which administered the union's funds.  According to authorities, Jungbluth wrote checks from the union's accounts to herself and a former boyfriend, stamping her boss' name for authorization.  A total of more than 200 fraudulent checks were executed in this manner over a period of about 9 years, beginning in 2002 and continuing until 2011.

Read the story here.

Read the criminal complaint here.

Pennsylvania Man Charged With Embezzling $127K From Local Cinema

Andrew Tuzzino, 48, of Manheim Township, Pennsylvania, has been arrested and charged with embezzling about $127,000 from the Penn Cinema, where he had been employed as general manager.  According to authorities, over a year and a half period, Tuzzino skimmed funds from the cinema utilizing a scheme involving phony ticket and gift certificate refunds. 

Read the story here which quotes fraud expert Chris Marquet.

Connecticut Banker From New York Sentenced For Embezzling $673K; Squanders Funds On Gambling

Shawn Reilly, 34, of Congers, New York, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for embezzling $673,447 from UBS Securities, LLC in Stamford, Connecticut where he had served as director of the bank's settlements group.  According to reports, Reilly made 84 fraudulent wire transfers of funds over a period of more than 2 years, from February 2009 to April 2011.  Reilly reportedly used the money to cover gambling losses he incurred online and at casinos in Connecticut, Atlantic City, New Orleans and Las Vegas.  Reilly was also ordered to pay restitution.

Read the story here, here and here.

California Banker Pleads Guilty To Embezzling Nearly $2 Million From Customer Accounts

Matthew J. Walker, 34, of Laguna Hills, California, pleaded guilty to charges he embezzled nearly $2 million from customer accounts at the Farmers & Merchants Bank where he had been employed as vice president.  Walker is reportedly a decendant of C.J. Walker, who founded the bank in 1907 and the son of Daniel Walker, the current president of the bank.  According to authorities, over a period of 16 months, Walker withdrew funds from customer trust accounts and funnelled the money into a failed company called Xoodlz, Inc.  A total of $1,973,000 was reportedly taken in 8 fraudulent transactions.  Walker pleaded guilty to one count of theft of bank funds and faces up to 30 years in prison, plus restitution and fines.

Read the story here and here.

Former Municipal Tax Collector In Connecticut Arrested For Allegedly Embezzling $670K

Karen Guillet, 61, of Oxford, Connnecticut, has been arrested on charges she embezzled more  than $670,000 from the municipality where she had been employed as tax collector.  Authorities allege that over a period of six years, from approximately 2003 through late 2009, Guillet siphoned money from the town by taking tax receipts meant for town coffers and converting them for her own benefit.  Guillet allegedly used an elaborate scheme to pay vendors and other town obligations with new reciepts in an effort to hide her misappropriations.  Specifically, Guillet was charged with one count of first-degree larceny and six counts of first-degree forgery in this matter.  The investigation spanned a two year period and Guillet, who worked as tax collector for 24 years, resigned her position in June 2010, according to media reports.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.