Former Executive Of Oregon Restaurant Chain Accused Of Embezzling $1 Million, Now Faces New Accusations Of Theft From Another Company

From KOIN on 2/20/14:

The former Chief Operating Officer for Typhoon! — who already stands accused of embezzling approximately $1 million from the now defunct popular local restaurant chain — is now accused of embezzling money from a global food distribution company, KOIN 6 News has learned.

Richard Lee Anderson, 56, was arraigned Wednesday in Multnomah County Circuit Court on a grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree aggravated theft. The new case was opened after investigators received an anonymous tip.

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Court documents obtained by KOIN show that between the periods of May — July 2012 and August –October 2012, Anderson stole approximately $20,000 from food distributor Sysco Corporation.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Demer, who is prosecuting the case said that based on preliminary information, Anderson worked for Sysco before being hired at Typhoon!.

The new grand jury indictment was issued Feb. 13, 2014.

Investigators learned after Anderson left Typhoon! — which shut down its five locations in February 2012 — he was re-hired at Sysco as a district manager. Officials said one of the clients he was responsible for was Bambuza Vietnam Bistro, which has two restaurant locations on the South Waterfront in Portland and in Hillsboro.

Anderson is accused of “padding” Bambuza’s invoice by adding extra food items, like chicken and bread. The items, not ordered by Bambuza, but reportedly added on by Anderson, would be listed as will-call. Anderson would then pick up the extra items himself and then sell them on the side, court documents allege.

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Oregon Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $225K From Auto Dealership To Finance Lavish Lifestyle

From The Oregonian on 2/18/14:

When the jury returned with a guilty verdict, Rick Jones and Kristina Kaino-Smith wept.

Jones shed tears of relief. His three-year quest for justice had ended. Kaino-Smith, a once-trusted friend and employee who stole $225,000, would be going to prison.

Kaino-Smith worked for Rick Jones Motor Co. as a bookkeeper and office manager. She also handled his personal finances.

For 18 months, Kaino-Smith forged Jones' name on checks she wrote to herself.  Jones' money paid for Hawaiian vacations, spa visits, expensive make-up, gifts, and shopping trips to Nordstrom, Target, Victoria's Secret among other retailers.

"She was a big shopper," said prosecutor Sarah Dumont.

A jury found Kaino-Smith, 42, guilty on several counts of forgery, first-degree theft and first-degree aggravated theft. Clackamas County Circuit Judge Douglas Van Dyk sentenced her Tuesday to 3½ years in prison.

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Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty & Gets Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $237 From Local YMCA

Caroline Y. Hawley

Caroline Y. Hawley, 59, of North Canton, Ohio has plead guilty to embezzling nearly $237,000 from the North Canton YMCA where she had been employed in an unspecified capacity.  Subsequent to her plea agreement, Hawley was sentenced to 2 years in prison.  According to prosecutors, over a period of nearly 8 years, from January 2004 through November 2011, Hawley siphoned funds from the non-profit for her own benefit.  Specifically, Hawley plead guilty to one count of aggravated theft.  Hawley was originally charged this past January. 

Authors note: Hawley presumably held a bookkeeping position and probably wrote fraudulent checks for her own benefit.  If anyone knows the specifics in this case, please let us know.

Read the story here and here.

Update (8/30/12): Hawley was sentenced to 2 years in prison.

South Dakota Man Sentenced For Embezzling $145K From Cancer Treatment Center

Terry Ryan Portra, 46, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for embezzling some $145,000 from the McHale Institute, a local cancer treatment center, where he had been employed.  According to authorities, over a period of 3 years, from January 2008 to January 2011, Portra siphoned funds from the heathcare concern.  He reportedly spent the funds to "maintain a lavish lifestyle, purchasing day spa trips for himself and his wife, and to pay off debts from a previous bankruptcy."  Portra, who plead guilty to aggravated theft last October, was also ordered to pay full restitution. 

Read the story here and here.

Oregon Woman Charged With Embezzling $148K

Jane Lynn Sanders, 45, of Sandy, Oregon, has been charged with embezzling about $148,000 from the Eclectic Institute, a local producer of organic herbal supplements where she had been employed as an accountant.  Specifically, Sanders has been charged with 8 counts of first-degree aggravated theft, 10 counts of first-degree theft and 3 counts of falsifying business records.  According to authorities, over a period of about 2 years, from October 2008 through August 2010, Sanders siphoned funds from Eclectic and its two sister companies, Earth's Botanical Harvest and Eclectic Medical Publications.  Authorities alleged that Sanders paid company vendors with personal credit cards, then over-reimbursed herself by writing business checks to herself that were deposited into her personal bank account.  She is suspected of embezzling additional funds dating back to July 2006.  However, the statute of limitations ran out on the earlier thefts.

Read the story here, here and here.

Oregon Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $340K From Auto Dealership

Sandra Elizabeth Rose, 47, of Bend, Oregon, has been sentenced to 3 years in prison for embezzling more than $340,000 from Dave Holt Toyota where she had been employed.  According to authorities, Rose siphoned the funds from the dealership over a period of 11 years.  She was originally charged with 21 felony counts in April 2010, including 18 counts of first-degree aggravated theft, two counts of unlawful use of a computer and one count of attempted theft.  However, her plea agreement called for a guilty plea to three counts of theft and one count of computer crimes.  Rose has reportedly repaid some $45,000 in restitution.

Read the story here.

Oregon Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $500K

Faye Louise Clemens, 65, of Beaverton, Oregon, has been sentenced to 52 months in prison for embezzling nearly $500,000 from Marine Lumber Co. where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, Clemens wrote checks to herself for cash, pocketing the money over a period of three years.  Clemens has blamed her actions on an apparent gambling addiction.

Read the story here.

Ohio Man Charged With Embezzling Nearly $1.7 Million

Mark Cherubini, 44, of rural Knox County, Ohio, has been charged with embezzling nearly $1.7 million from three separate businesses owned by his high school friends for which he had served as financial manager, including Law General Contracting, RMR Holdings and Redskin Transport. According to authorities, over a period of nearly 8 years, from January 2003 until September 2010, Cherubini falsified financial ledgers and wrote fraudulent checks to a fourth company he had worked for but had been sold to foreign owners. Cherubini allegedly kept one of the old company's accounts open and used the proceeds for his own benefit. Prosecutors also allege that Cherubini owns a quarter horse farm which he purchased with the ill-gotten gains from his alleged misappropriations. Cherubini has been indicted on nine felony charges, including three counts of aggravated theft, three counts of money laundering, two counts of misuse of a credit card and one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

Read the story here, here and here.

Kentucky Man Charged With Embezzling $3 Million From Ohio Company

Edward Cantrell, 36, of Florence, Kentucky, has been indicted on charges he embezzled some $3 million from Fin Pan Inc., a Hamilton, Ohio-based maker of construction products where he had been employed as financial controller. According to prosecutors, Cantrell executed more than 125 fraudulent transactions whereby he had company officials sign checks payable to company vendors but had them sent to a post office box and deposited them into his own accounts. He then transferred monies between accounts in an effort to cover up the thefts which spanned a five year period beginning in 2004. The 55 count indictment includes one count of aggravated theft; 11 counts of telecommunications fraud; 10 counts of forgery; 11 counts of money laundering; 12 counts of unauthorized use of computer, cable or telecommunication property; and 10 counts of securing writings by deception. Once he was confronted with discrepancies in the books, Cantrell disappeared. He was arrested yesterday in Arizona. Authorities allege that Cantrell used the stolen money to support a lavish lifestyle that included expensive cars and luxury vacations. The case is reportedly the largest embezzlement case to be prosecuted in Butler County, Ohio.

Read the story here and here.

Update (6/11/11): Cantrell pleaded guilty to 55 felony counts and faces up to 133 years in prison. 

Oregon Municipal Councilwoman Arrested On $350K Embezzlement Charges

Michelle Renee Mills, 35, of Molalla, Oregon, was arrested last Friday and charged with embezzling more than $350,000 from Abtronics, Inc., a local semiconductor manufacturer where she had been employed as general manager. Mills is also a city councilwoman for Molalla. According to authorities, Mills misappropriated the funds from her former employer over a period of approximately 3 years, from 2006 until October 2009. She was booked on 32 counts of aggravated theft and one count of 1st degree theft. Mills was first employed by Abtronics in August 2004 as general manager, according to her LinkedIn page. She is also president of the Molalla Buckeroo Association which runs the annual charity rodeo in town.

Read the story here, here and here.

Oregon Authorities Seek Woman Suspected Of Embezzling $225K From Several Businesses

Mary Elizabeth Carter, 46, last known to be living in Portland, Oregon, is being sought by Troutdale, Oregon police for her alleged involvement in embezzling at least $225,000 from several local businesses. Authorities claims Carter stole from local veterinary clinics where she apparently worked. They are seeking assistance in locating her whereabouts for outstanding felony warrants for aggravated theft. Carter, who is an Irish national, has a "slight" Irish accent and is described as white, 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. See photograph here. Troutdale police ask that anyone who might have information on her whereabouts to call them at 503-823-3333.

Read the story here and here.

Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty To $290K Embezzlement Scheme

Angela Jackson, aka Angela Bailey, of West Carrollton, Ohio, pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled some $290,000 from the Indian Creek Condominium Association where she had been employed as the property manager. She was originally charged last March with aggravated theft, ten counts of forgery and two counts of misuse of a credit card. Jackson reportedly worked as property manager for about two years and was caught in the scheme last August by officers of the company. Jackson reportedly confessed to the thefts. Authorities suggested that the embezzlement may have been tied into an "addiction" problem Jackson reportedly had.

Read the story here and here.

Two Ohio Men Charged In $150K Fraudulent Billing Scheme

John Joseph Briggle, 56, and Leonard P. Gorski, 55, both of Toledo, Ohio, have been charged with bilking the Toledo Hospital out of some $150,000 in a fraudulent billing scheme. According to authorities, over a two year period from May 2002 until July 2004, Briggle's printing company billed the hospital for supplies and services that were not delivered. Gorski, who was allegedly complicit in the fraudulent billings, was employed in the hospital's print shop during that time. They each of plead not guilty to charges of aggravated theft. Separately, we note that Briggle (pictured here) has been charged in Cuyahoga County in an unrelated case involving the alleged embezzlement of money from Cleveland Public Schools with a co-defendant, Dan Burns.

Read the story here and here.

Former Oregon Bookkeeper Sentenced In $742K Embezzlement Scheme From Tire Company

Aleda Zonn Carter, 47, of Turner, Oregon, was sentenced yesterday to nine and a half years in prison for embezzling more than $742,000 from Superior Tire Service in Salem, where she had been employed as lead bookkeeper, reporting directly to the company CFO. Authorities believe Carter embezzled between $860,000 and $1 million over a ten year period by making bi-monthly electronic transfers of funds directly into her own accounts. However, there is a six year statute of limitations and she was only charged with that portion. Carter previously pleaded guilty to seven charges of aggravated theft.

Read the story here.

Oregon Financial Planner Sentenced For Bilking Elderly Investor Out Of $563K

Colleen A. Averill, 61, of Beaverton, Oregon, was sentenced yesterday to 3 years in prison for bilking a 95 year old woman out of $563,000 entrusted to her as a financial planner. The victim, Mary Pence, testified in court that Averill "acted like she was my best friend...(but) was an out-and-out thief." Averill had previously pleaded no contest to multiple counts of first-degree aggravated theft, criminal mistreatment and forgery. Averill reportedly stole the funds in part to finance a gambling habit.

Read the story here.

Hat Tip: Reader Kelly

Wife Of Ohio County Sheriff Awaits Sentencing In $251K Embzzlement Case

Kathy L. Beutler, 47, of Lima, Ohio and the wife of Putnam County Sheriff James R. Beutler, is awaiting sentencing for embezzling $251,000 from the Ohio Farmers Union where she had been employed as secretary-treasurer of the non-profit family farm advocacy group. Beutler pleaded guilty on September 23, 2009, to a bill of information charging her with aggravated theft. Prosecutors alleged that Beutler made at least 86 unauthorized direct deposit transfers of funds from the organization's payroll account to her personal checking account over a four year period from April 2005 and May 2009. Beutler's sentencing has been twice postponed and is now scheduled for May 25th. She has blamed her thefts on credit card debts she racked up. Sheriff James Beutler has not been accused in the matter. Unsubstantiated reports allege that Kathy Beutler may have embezzled from two prior employers.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (11/8/10): Ohio Farmers Union has filed a civil suit against Kathy L. Beutler, her husband, James R. Beutler and others, including the company's accountants, in an effort to recover losses sustained as a result of Kathy Beutler's admitted embezzlement of what is now believed to be at least $350,000. Authorities believe she used company funds to pay personal credit card bills for personal expenses, including vacations and her daughter's weddings.

Update: Former Oregon Bookkeeper Sentenced In $1.5 Million Embezzlement Case

Victoria Marie Monfore, 48, of Springfield, Oregon, was sentenced yesterday to 23 1/2 years in prison for embezzling some $1.5 million from IP/Koke Printing where she had been employed for 16 years as an accounts payable clerk. Monfore's embezzlement scheme reportedly lasted from August 2003 until June 2009 whereby she forged company checks and made them payable to herself. Her thefts reportedly caused the business to closed down, resulting in the loss of 74 jobs. She blamed her actions on a gambling addiction. She was originally charged with 58 felony counts of aggravated first-degree theft, 18 counts of aggravated identity theft and a 12 counts of first-degree theft.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here.

Oregon Bookkeeper Accused Of Embezzling $200+K From Puppet Company

Jodi Lynn Klemm, 41, of Scappoose, Oregon has been accused of embezzling more than $200,000 from Michael Curry Design, Inc., a world renowned puppetry company, for whom she worked as a bookkeeper. Klemm whose thefts allegedly spanned a six year period, reportedly held the bookkeeper position for the past 8 years. However, specific details of her alleged theft have not yet been released.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (8/4/10): Klemm, now 42, was sentenced to 32 months in jail for embezzling $209,000 from the well known puppet company, Michael Curry Design, Inc. Klemm plead guilty last week to two counts of aggravated theft and two counts of theft.

Update On Ohio Hospice Embezzlment Case: Former Employee Sentenced To 7 Years

Kathleen A. Lee, 60, of Heath, Ohio, who was found guilty of embezzling a now upwardly revised amount of $454,000 from the Hospice of Central Ohio for whom she was employed for 13 years as its sole bookkeeper, was sentenced earlier this week to 7 years in prison yesterday. The sentence was imposed on one count each of aggravated theft, forgery, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Over a 5 year period, commencing in 2003, Lee essentially forged or altered 156 Hospice checks to make them payable to herself and cashed them or otherwise used them for her own benefit. According to prosecutors, Lee used the money to pay credit card bills and support various members of her family.

Read FraudTalk's original posts on this story here and here.

Read the story here and here.

Auditors For Oregon Town That Missed Embezzlement Agree To Pay $385K

The accounting firm of Pauly Rogers and Co., which had served as the auditors for the Oregon town of West Linn from 2002 to 2005, agreed to pay the town $385,000 to settle a negligence lawsuit. The action claimed the firm should have caught a $1.4 million embezzlement by the town's finance director during that period when instead it gave the town a "clean bill of health" financially. Elma Sandoval Magkamit (pictured left), 53, and West Linn's former finance director, plead guilty in 2006 to embezzling $1.4 million from the town. Specifically, Magkamit pleaded guilty to five counts of theft in the first degree and 52 counts of aggravated theft in the first degree. She was sentenced to nearly 8 1/2 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of more than $1.8 million in damages and costs. Magkamit reportedly had a serious gambling addiction.

Read the story here, here, here and here.