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.

New Jersey Woman Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling $421K From Record Company

Sharanda Houser, 35, of Somerset, New Jersey, has been indicted on charges she allegedly embezzled about $421,000 from New York City-based Roadrunner Records where she had been employed as a payroll manager.  According to prosecutors, Houser made fraudulent reimbursements in the payroll system and electronically transferred the funds at least 130 times to her own account over a period of six years.  Houser has been indicted on New York state charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, both felonies.  Media reports indicate Houser was previously convicted of embezzling $13,000 from an employer in Virginia in 1999.  Houser has plead not guilty to the charges.  Roadrunner has handled many famous bands and musicians, including The Steve Miller Band, Megadeth and others.

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Delaware Catholic Pastor Accused Of Embezzling $358K

The Rev. Cornelius J. Breslin, 59, of New Castle County, Delaware has been charged with embezzling more than $358,000 from two parishes he oversaw, St. Patrick and St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Authorities alleged that between July 2009 and August 2010, Breslin wrote checks to himself from the accounts of both parishes. Breslin has been charged with two felony charges of theft over $100,000 and two misdemeanor charges of falsifying business records. According to media reports, Senator Joe Biden in 2004 regularly attended Mass at St. Patrick's.

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Update (7/7/11): Breslin pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of felony theft over $100,000.  He is scheduled to be sentenced September 23, 2011.

Former New York City PTA Treasurer Accused Of Embezzling As Much As $100K

Providence Hogan, 43, of Brooklyn, New York is under investigation for embezzling as much as $100,000 from the PTA for Public School 29 in the Cobble Hill section of the borough where she had served as treasurer since July 2007. An investigation is ongoing into the allegations of the thefts and details have not yet been released. Hogan reportedly has her own business, Providence Day Spa and she has worked as a massage therapist and doula.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (3/29/11): Hogan has been formally indicted on 22 counts including Grand Larceny and Falsifying Business Records in connection with her alleged embezzlement of some $100,000 from PS 29s PTA. She allegedly wrote checks to herself from the PTA account and took cash to support her business, Providence Day Spa. She also allegedly attempted to cover up the misappropriations by falsifying documents.

Update (11/1/11): Hogan struck a plea agreement, pleading guilty to 3 counts of grand larceny and agreeing to pay restitution to the PS 29 PTA. 

New York Man Indicted Indicted On Charges He Embezzled $200K From VFW

Ralph R. VanAlstyne Sr., 62, of Gloversville, New York was indicted today on charges he embezzled a total of more than $200,000 from three veterans organizations: the American Legion Harold Wilmont Post 137, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Bernard W. Kierney Memorial Post #2077 and the Fulton County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 122, where he held fiduciary positions. The 14 count indictment includes six counts of third-degree grand larceny, one count of second-degree grand larceny, one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, three counts of first-degree falsifying business records and three counts of second-degree offering a false instrument for filing. According to prosecutors, VanAlstyne's scheme spanned nearly 4 years from January 2005 until December 2008. The scheme apparently involved the siphoning of funds from the organizations' revenues from gaming operations. Prosecutors alleged that VanAlstyne shifted funds between accounts in an effort to hide his thefts.

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Update (6/7/11): VanAlstyne pleaded guilty to three felony counts and agreed to restitution of $186,527.  He will served up to six years in prison.

Former Fundraiser For St. John's University In New York Charged With Embezzling More Than $1 Million

Cecilia Chang, 57, of Jamaica Estates, New York, has been charged with embezzling more than $1 million from St. John's University where she had been employed as vice president for international relations and dean of the Center for Asian Studies, responsible for fundraising from Asian donors. According to prosecutors, Chang created a non-profit entity, Global Development Initiative Foundation which she represented to potential donors was part of the university but in fact she controlled solely. She then solicited funds, including a $500,000 donation from a Saudi prince, which she used to pay for her own benefit, including gambling junkets. Chang also allegedly made improper expense reimbursements from credit card charges that included her son's law school tuition at the university and other personal expenses. Chang was indicted on 205 counts including grand larceny, forgery, criminal possession of a forged instrument and falsifying business records. Chang had been employed by the university for 30 years before she was fired last January. The scheme spanned a number of years.

Read the story here and here.

Update (9/30/10): An article published in the New York Times alleges that Chang, in addition to embezzling some $1 million from St. John's University, forced students to clean, cook and act as her personal servants to keep their scholarships.

Read the updated story here.