Former Little League Treasurer In New Jersey Pleads Guilty To Embezzling More Than $100K

From NBC10 on 3/21/2015:

The former treasurer of a New Jersey youth sports league has admitted embezzling more than $100,000.

 

Hunterdon County prosecutors say 43-year-old Kevin Lockrey, of Flemington, recently pleaded guilty to theft by deception. He faces a 364-day county jail term when he's sentenced June 26, and he also will have to make full restitution to the Flemington-Raritan Baseball League.

 

Lockrey was charged last year after discrepancies were found during an audit of the organization's finances.

 

Prosecutors did not say why Lockrey took the money or how he used it.

New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $512K

From the North Jersey Media Group on 2/5/2015:

A Clifton man faces a possible seven years in prison after admitting Thursday that he embezzled more than $500,000 from a Clifton pharmaceutical importer.

Steven Dilk, 60, of Clifton, a former warehouse supervisor and operations manager for SST Corp., entered a guilty plea to a charge of second-degree theft by deception before Superior Court Judge Randal C. Chiocca in Passaic County. Under a plea deal, the state will recommend seven years in state prison at sentencing, which is scheduled for April 17. Dilk will be required to pay full restitution.

According to Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman, Dilk's thefts occurred between January 2006 and April 2013, when Dilk left SST to work for a competitor.

Hoffman said Dilk defrauded SST by getting reimbursed for import fees he never paid. Before 2006, SST had its products shipped through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where it sometimes faced "gate charges" that would be paid by Dilk, who would then be reimbursed by the company.

But after 2005, SST received its shipments through Philadelphia International Airport, where it hired a shipping broker that paid any fees. Although Dilk did not incur any expenses for shipments through Philadelphia, he submitted numerous false receipts to SST for "gate charges" that he claimed to have paid. As a result, he fraudulently received reimbursement totaling $512,047, authorities said.

Indiana Woman Charged With Embezzling $600K From Step Father

From WTHI TV10 on 2/4/2015:

A Gibson County woman is behind bars, accused of embezzling over $600,000 from her step-father.

On Wednesday police arrested 66-year-old Brenda Lee, from Fort Branch after an investigation dating back to December, 2013.

 

According to police, they received information money was missing from her step-father, Franklin Douglas’ account.

 

Douglas died in September of 2012.

 

Lee was Douglas’ Power of Attorney, giving her full access to his bank accounts.

 

During the investigation, police learned Lee had allegedly embezzled over $600,000 for her personal use from Douglas’ bank accounts.

 

On Wednesday, the Gibson County Prosecutor’s Office issued a felony arrest warrant for Lee.

Lee was charged with theft and check deception.

Municipal Manager in Pennsylvania Accused Of Embezzling $230K - Trial Delayed

From Trib Total Media on 1/5/2015:

The criminal case against a former Munhall borough manager accused of embezzling more than $230,000 from the borough appears headed toward a resolution.

 

Matt Galla, 44, of West Mifflin was to stand trial Monday on four felony counts of theft by deception, but the case was continued until April 8. A court official said the continuance was granted to give Galla time to gather a lump sum for restitution.

 

Galla's attorney, Brent McCune, said Monday, “We are trying to negotiate a settlement with the commonwealth.”

 

McCune declined to discuss details but said, “The borough feels they're owed some money and we're looking at that. Maybe we can reach an agreement with the government.”

 

Galla was arrested in April on allegations he overpaid himself while working as borough manager between 2010 and 2013. He was released on his own recognizance April 9.

 

Galla, who had a budgeted salary of $60,000, is accused of overpaying himself $12,000 in 2010, $85,000 in 2011, $80,000 in 2012 and $53,000 during the first six months of 2013.

 

This is the second time the trial has been continued. On Sept. 25, McCune requested more time to review documents.

 

According to charging documents, Galla “had the responsibility for payroll, was in the position to intentionally omit payroll reports, and to destroy and/or falsify certain payroll records to disguise certain payroll fraud schemes such as overpayments of payroll to himself, and under-withhold Social Security and federal income tax on his fraudulently inflated pay.”

 

Shortly after Galla's resignation in June 2013, Munhall officials learned that audits had not been completed in 2011 and 2012, among other bookkeeping inconsistencies.

 

The missing audits cost the borough at least $360,000 in Regional Asset District funds from Allegheny County, and the lack of proper documentation made it difficult to obtain a tax anticipation loan last year.

 

Galla has maintained his innocence, stating the borough scapegoated him for refusing to complete audits for 2011 and 2012 because those documents were “rife with corruption.”

 

Galla was hired as a part-time clerk in 2009, and he became manager in December 2010.

This past fall, Galla angered borough officials when he appeared on the CBS game show “The Price is Right” while awaiting trial. In the program, which aired Oct. 3 and was recorded in Los Angeles on Aug. 20, Galla is seen sitting in the front row.

 

Around the time the show aired, Munhall Councilman Joe Ballas said Galla had been ordered not to leave Allegheny County as a condition of his release from county jail and called his appearance on the show “a slap in the face to all the residents of this borough.”

 

Read the whole story here.

Former Finance Exec For Southern New Hampshire University Sentenced For Embezzling $1.1 Million Over 14 Year Period

From the Boston Globe on 2/25/14:

The former budget director of Southern New Hampshire University was sentenced Tuesday to 7 ½ to 15 years in prison for stealing $1.1 million from the school over the course of 14 years.

Raymond Prouty, who had worked at the Manchester school for 34 years, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of theft by deception and theft by unauthorized taking. He did not comment at his sentencing hearing in Merrimack County Superior Court, but prosecutors said he gave no specific explanations for the thefts.

...

 

Read the story here.

Colorado Man Accused Of Embezzling More Than $1 Million From Water Utility; Had Prior Convictions For Fraud and Embezzlement

From the McCook Daily Gazette on 1/15/14:

Stunned residents of the McCook area couldn't believe it Monday when word started spreading on the Internet that Terry Malcom has been accused of stealing more than $1 million over the course of a decade from the Cascade Metro and Arabian Acres Metro water districts in Teller County, Colorado.

The report brought shudders and head-shaking because Terry Malcom is the man who bilked Southwest Nebraska residents out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in his years as an attorney in McCook.

As a result of his misdeeds back then, Malcom was sentenced in March of 1998 to serve two to six years in prison for theft by deception and one to three years for second degree forgery. In passing sentence, District Judge John Murphy of North Platte said, "Basically, what it comes down to is how bad has the fabric of society been torn ..."

...

Read the whole article here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Utah Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $145K; Former CFO May Have Stolen As Much As $1 Million

From The Salt Lake Tribune:

Pool Cover Specialists — you can guess what this West Jordan company makes — set a sales record last year. But it did so after climbing out of a hole that someone else dug — one so deep that it could have killed the business.

"We broke a 29-year company record in 2012, even after we caught our CFO (chief financial officer) with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar," said Bruce Grogg, Pool Cover's CEO.

Last week, Penny Thurman pleaded guilty in 3rd District Court to one charge of theft by deception and a second charge of unlawful use of a credit card — both second-degree felonies. She admitted stealing $145,000 over a period of more than two years. Gregg said the amount may be a lot more, as much as $750,000 to $1 million.

"That was all we were able to prove," he said.

The thefts began just four weeks after Thurman was hired in 2009 and continued until March 2012. Grogg said Thurman had complete control over the accounting department. She misused company credit cards, set up double payrolls and paid vendors who didn't exist.

"She had everybody fooled, including our auditors. We trusted her 100 percent," Grogg said.

...

New Jersey Woman Accused Of Embezzling More Than $900K From Philly Archdiocese

Anita Guzzardi, 42, of Haddon Heights, New Jersey, has been charged with embezzling more than $900,000 from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where she had been employed as chief financial officer.  According to authorities, over a period of more than 6 years, from at least 2005 through August 2011, Guzzardi used Archdiocese checks to pay personal credit card bills and otherwise for her own benefit.  Specifically, Guzzardi has been charged with theft, forgery, unlawful use of a computer and related crimes.  Guzzardi has been employed by the Archdiocese in various fiduciary roles since 1989.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (7/2/12): Guzzardi has plead guilty to felony counts of theft by deception, forgery and unlawful use of a computer.

Update (8/25/12): Guzzardi was sentenced to 2 to 7 years in prison for embezzling what is now understood to be more than $906,000 from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  She has reportedly paid back some $206,000 to date.

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. 

Nebraska Woman Arrested For Allegedly Embezzling $114K From Bookseller

Melissa Sue Ormonde, 39, of Hickman, Nebraska, has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling $114,672.80 from Nebraska Book Co. where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, Ormonde created two fraudulent payroll accounts in June 2010 that deposited payroll funds directly into her own accounts on a regular basis until the time of her arrest.  A total of 47 deposits were made via the phony payroll accounts.  She has been arrested on one felony theft by deception and two identity theft charges.  Ormonde had been an employee of the company since 2007.

Read the story here and here.

Update (8/21/12): Ormonde has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for embezzling what is now understood to be $115,700.  Ormonde was also ordered to pay $237,823 in restitution.

Pennsylvania Man Charged With Embezzling $825K From Fire Company & EMS Concern

Henry W. Swincinski, 59, of Paint Township, Pennsylvania has been charged with embezzling $825,000 from the Windber Fire Company and Northern EMS for both of which he had served as financial controller.  According to authorities, over a 9 year period, from January 2001 to January 2010, Swincinski wrote about 975 checks to himself from the two organizations.  He was first charged in February on numerous counts of theft by deception.  The new charges include an additional 691 counts of thefts by deception.  He had been a firefighter since 1974.

Read the story here, here and here.

Iowa Man Charged With Embezzling $271K

Christopher Brooks, 35, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, has been arrested and charged with embezzling some $271,000 from the River City Barricade Company where he had been employed as office manager. According to authorities, Brooks wrote checks to himself over a four year period. Brooks has been charged with charged with 4 counts of felony theft By deception, and 4 counts of felony state tax evasion. It turns out that Brooks recently became a member of the Missouri Valley City Council in March 2010.

Developing...

Read the story here.

Nebraska Woman Gets Probation After Embezzling $136K

Ariel Rivera, 28, of Lincoln, Nebraska has been sentenced to five years probation for embezzling $136,000 from Christensen Audiology & Hearing Aid Center where she had been employed as office manager and chief financial officer. Rivera is reportedly the daughter of Roy Christensen, the owner of the business. Rivera, who pleaded guilty to the charge of theft by deception, apparently wrote and forged unauthorized checks to herself from company accounts. Rivera was arrested last May. Her scheme spanned a two year period, from March 2008 to March 2010. Rivera has also been sued in civil court by the company to recover the monies she stole, which came to a grand total of totaled $136,797.67, which she has been ordered to repay. Read the story here, here and here.

Pretty light sentence, IMHO ...

Former Nurse/Administrator in New Jersey Pleads Guilty to Charges She Embezzled As Much As $900K From Medical Concern

Heidi D. Facchini, 43, of Clark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty last week to charges related to her alleged embezzlement of as much as $900,000 from the North Fullerton Surgery Center where she had been employed as a nurse/administrator. According to authorities, Facchini made numerous personal purchases with the company American Express account, including vacations, Rolex watches, maid service, food, clothes and jewelry as well as diabetic supplies for her son. She is also alleged to have made unauthorized wire transfers from company accounts to those she controlled. Facchini's scheme reportedly spanned a 5 year period, from January 2005 until February 2010. She plead guilty to one count of theft by deception and one count of filing false and fraudulent state income tax return. Facchini's plea agreement may spare her from a prison when she is sentenced in March 2011. Facchini left the North Fullerton Surgery Center in February to work for the Florham Park Surgery Center as a nurse supervisor.

I hope the FPSC starts going over their books very carefully...

Read the story here and here.

Former New Jersey College Staffer Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $500+K

Shaunette P. Ruffin-Moody, 48, of Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to charges she embezzled some $502,000 from New Jersey City University where she had been employed as office manager for the institution's student government organization. According to authorities, Ruffin-Moody conspired with her husband, Alexander A. Moody, 51, to issue at least 219 unauthorized checks to herself, her husband and three others. Ruffin-Moody plead guilty to felony charges of embezzlement and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. She has been suspended without pay from her position since earlier this year and also faces state charges of conspiracy, official misconduct, theft by deception, and forgery. Sentencing is scheduled for March 24, 2011.

Read the story here, here and here.

Pennsylvania Municipal Utility Worker Sentenced In $475K Embezzlement Case

Cynthia Jo Lark, 48, of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to one to three years in prison for embezzling nearly $475,000 from the Northumberland Sewer Authority where she had been employed as a bookkeeper. According to authorities, Lark forged the names of the utility's president and treasurer to execute payroll checks for herself. She then created a false audit to cover up the thefts. Lark, who was originally charged in March plead guilty to theft by deception and forgery charges this past June. As part of the sentencing, Lark was also ordered to pay full restitution of $474,907. We note that Lark is a former Northumberland Borough Council member. Lark had been employed by the utility since 1994. Authorities believe that in 2000 or 2001, Lark began her embezzlement scheme which lasted about 9 years until the beginning of 2010.

Read the story here, here, and here.

Former Pennsylvania Paralegal Sentenced For Embezzling $100+K From Law Firm; Has Prior History Of Embezzlement

Kathy Foer-Morse, 50, of Spring City, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 21-84 months in prison for embezzling more than $100,000 from High Swartz, LLP, a local law firm where she had been employed as a paralegal. Prosecutors alleged that Foer-Morse wrote herself 12 unauthorized checks totalling $100,937.32 between 2008 and 2009. At the time of her arrest in May 2009, Foer-Morse was on bail pending sentencing for embezzling some $285,000 from the law firm of Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP in New York City. She reportedly was also convicted of stealing money from her child's school in New Jersey.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the D.A.'s announcement of her arrest here.

Former Pennsylvania Fire Co. Treasurer Accused Of Embezzling $117K

Miles K. Hummer, 70, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has been accused by authorities of embezzling nearly $117,000 from the Goldsboro Fire Company No. 1, where he had served as treasurer for nearly two decades. Hummer, who is also the owner of the Goldsboro Marina, recently suffered a stroke, according to reports. He is charged with felony counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception and receiving stolen property and has yet to be arraigned, due to Hummer's health condition. Authorities suspect Hummer in a second embezzlement matter involving a separate volunteer fire department. Hummer's thefts went undetected for seven years, according to investigators.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (9/8/10): Hummer is also alleged to have embezzled more than $112,000 from Penbrook Volunteer Fire Department where he was also a member and served as longtime treasurer. Hummer apparently wrote checks to himself from Penbrook coffers to help support his marina business over more than five years.

Update (9/29/11): Hummer has been deemed "mentally unfit" to stand trial for his alleged embezzlements.

Former New Jersey Bookkeeper Sentenced For Embezzling $425K From Attorney

Laura Colletti, 51, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling some $425,000 from client trust accounts of local attorney David Zendell. Colletti, who pled guilty to theft by deception last March, transferred funds from the trust accounts to her own and used some of the monies to pay for personal expenses, including credit card bills. Colletti had reportedly been employed by the unnamed attorney for 18 years. Her scheme allegedly spanned a 9 year period.

Read the story here and here.

Utah Man Sentenced In $250K Embezzlement Case

Bart Andersen, 39, of Hooper, Utah, was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty last February to charges he embezzled about $250,000 from Big D Construction, where he had been employed. Specifically, Anderson plead guilty to two counts of communications fraud and one count of theft by deception. Anderson allegedly misused company credit cards to pay for personal expenses, such as travel, meals and automobile expenses, among others. Anderson had been employed as a senior project manager for Big D Construction since 2005. Authorities also prosecuted a co-defendant and alleged co-conspirator, Kent Bruce McKenzie, 43, of Syracuse, Utah, who worked as a subcontractor to Big D. The schemes spanned approximately nearly 2 years from May 2007 until March 2009, when Anderson was

Read the story here, here and here.