Duke University Employee In North Carolina Accused Of Embezzling $267K From Institution

John William Cotton, 49, of Raleigh, North Carolina, has been charged with embezzling some $267,000 from Duke University, where he had been employed as head of the Department of Surgery. According to authorities, Cotton used his position to order goods and services for his own personal use as well as cash receipts. Research suggests that Cotton was a registered nurse and nurse clinician at Duke's Department of Surgery.

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California Man Accused Of Embezzling $150K From Armored Car Company; Spends It On Strippers

Orlando Flores, 27, of Ripon, California, has been charged with embezzling nearly $150,000 from Garda Cash Logistics, an armored car company, where he had been employed as a driver. According to authorities, since 2009, Flores stole cash from monies while loading ATM machines in small denominations and spent it at strip clubs. Flores allegedly frequented the Deja Vu Showgirls club in Stockton, California. Authorities believe Flores stole $148,000 in total.

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Former Executive Director of SunRise Academy In Washington, DC Indicted For Misappropriating $2.4 Million in Federal Funds

Charles Ike Emor, a/k/a Charles Ike Emenogha, 50, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was indicted on charges he misappropriated more than $2.4 million in federal funds earmarked for educational purposes for SunRise Academy where he had served as executive director. According to authorities, over a period of nearly five years, from January 2006 through November 2010, Emor caused funds to be transferred to an entity he had created and controlled called Core Ventures, LLC. According to the indictment, Emor used the ill-gotten gains to enrich himself and support a lavish lifestyle that included college tuition for his son, rent for his ex-wife, and luxury items such as jewelry, watches, artwork, televisions and other electronics, custom clothing, and high-end vehicles. SunRise Academy is a school for learning and emotionally disabled boys. Emor faces up to 87 months in prison if convicted.

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Read the DOJ announcement here.

Former Viginia Secretary of Finance Sentenced in $4 Million Embezzlment Scheme

John W. Forbes, II, 54, of Richmond, Virginia, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for embezzling more than $4 million from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission while he had served as Secretary of Finance for the Commonwealth of Virginia. According authorities, Forbes created fictitious entities, including the Community Development Council and International Business Associates, to which he issued some $2.2 million in checks of public funds. He also oversaw a non-profit entity, the Literary Foundation of Virginia, which received $5 million in state grant monies which is also misappropriated from, according to authorities. Forbes must also pay restitution of $4 million.

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Former Illinois Bank Manager Charged With $835K Embezzlement

Stephen R. Bradley, 64, of Petersburg, Illinois, was charged with embezzling nearly $835,000 from Petefish, Skiles & Co. Bank, a local financial institution where he had served as an executive and bank manager. According to authorities, Bradley's scheme spanned more than 7 years, from January 2003 until March 1, 2010. He had been employed by the bank since 2000. According to the bank, the embezzlement involved the creation of bogus loans. The total amount misappropriated is believed to be $834,945. Bradley faces up to 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, plus restitution if convicted.

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Tennessee Mother & Son Charged With Bilking Church $1.5 Million

Barbara D. Whitt, 68, and her son Michael Dean Whitt, 42, both of Morristown, Tennessee, were charged with misappropriating more than $1.5 million from the First Baptist Church in Morristown where she had served as church financial secretary for 47 years. According to authorities, Barbara Whitt issued at least 1,650 checks made out to "cash" pocketing the funds. The thefts are believed to have spanned a period of more than 2 years, from January 2008 until April 2010. Michael Whitt is alleged to have participated in the fraud and benefitted from the ill-gotten proceeds.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (2/15/11): Barbara Whitt and her son, Michael Whitt, pleaded guilty to charges they embezzled more than $1.5 million from teh First Baptist Church in Morristown. Barbara Whitt pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money laundering and Michael Whitt pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to launder money.

Update (9/2/11): Whitt, now 70, was sentenced to 44 months in prison.

New Mexico Couple Indicted For Misappropriating $270K From Bank

Anthony Michael Moya, 34, and Eunice Brenda Moya, 37, husband and wife, both residents of Santa Fe, New Mexico, were indicted on charges they misappropriated nearly $270,000 from CitiFinancial, Inc., where Anthony had been branch manager. According to the indictment, over a period from June 2004 to October 2005, the Moyas recruited "nominee" or straw borrowers who signed loan documents the proceeds of which they then misappropriated. They each face up to 30 years in prison, plus a fine of $1 million and restitution.

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Read the DOJ announcement here.

Read the indictment here.

Update (12/8/11): Anthony Moya, now 35, pleaded guilty to misapplication of funds by a bank official as part of a plea agreement.  The plea agreement included dropping charges against Moya's wife, Eunice Moya.

Six Executives Of Missouri Based Funeral Concern Indicted For Allegedly Diverting $600 Million

Six executives of Clayton, Missouri-based National Prearranged Services Inc. were indicted on charges they diverted as much as $600 million from fees paid by customers for pre-paid funeral services, for their own benefit. The six include James Douglas Cassity, 64, of Clayton; his son, Brent Douglas Cassity, 43, also of Clayton; Randall K. Sutton, 65, of Chesterfield; Sharon Nekol Province, 66, of Ballwin; Howard A. Wittner, 73, of Chesterfield; and David R. Wulf, 58, of St. Louis County. The 50 count indictment alleges mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy and seeks recovery of the funds and the seizure of numerous luxury items and property, including a 36-foot boat and jewelry, and various condominiums, homes and other properties in Missouri, California, Florida and Nantucket, Massachusetts. The funds paid by clients which should have been held in trust, were allegedly diverted by the defendants through numerous mail, wire and other transfers over a ten year period dating back to at least 1998 until 2008.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Hat tip: Reader Nicole.

Georgia Attorney Sentenced For Embezzling $340K From Law Firm

Steven Evan Zagoria, 59, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for embezzling $343,639 from his law firm. Zagoria was accused of issuing checks and forging the signature of another firm principal and depositing them into his own accounts. Zagoria is alleged to have used the funds to pay for his mortgage and credit card bills as well as for a second home his wife bought. Zagoria was also ordered to pay restitution of $318,000. He was disbarred earlier this year.

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Former Texas Municipal Manager, Brother Indicted In $4 Million Misappropriation Scheme

Ronnie Cain, 60, of Windcrest, Texas and his brother, Gary Cain, 53, were indicted on charges they conspired to misappropriate some $4 million from the City of Windcrest, where Ronnie Cain had served as chief administrative officer and Rackspace Hosting, Inc., a local Internet hosting company. Gary Cain, a developer, was alleged to have fraudulently received about $2.8 million from an account funded by the company for Windcrest to use for infrastructure improvements.

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Virginia Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty To $225K Embezzlement Scheme

Kathy Dishman White, 40, of Abingdon, Virginia, pleaded guilty to charges admitting she embezzled $225,079.65 from the Southwest Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council where she had been employed as a bookkeeper. Authorities alleged that over a four year period, beginning in 2006, White misappropriated small, but regular amounts of money by utilizing the non-profit's credit cards for personal use. She then attempted to cover-up the thefts by issuing checks from the organization's checking account to pay the credit card bills. She was accused of using the stolen funds to pay for a house and all kinds of personal luxury items. The non-profit operated on a budget of only $500,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2011 when she faces up to 35 years in prison, plus fines and restitution.

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Hat tip: Reader Joe.

Update (4/20/11): White was sentenced to 53 months in prison and ordered to pay about $229,000 in restitution.

Missouri Woman Pleads Guilty To $650K Embezzlement Scheme

Marcia Jackson, 51, of Florissant, Missouri, pleaded guilty to charges admitting she embezzled more than $650,000 from the Show-Me Institute, a local think-tank, where she had been employed as an office manager. Specifically, Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of theft greater than $25,000 and 24 counts of fraudulently using a credit device. Authorities alleged that over a period of three years, from November 2006 to December 2009, Jackson misappropriated the funds from the institute and used the monies to pay for home repairs, spa treatments, hair replacement treatments, jewelry and numerous vacations. According to media reports, Jackson was fired for unprofessional conduct and insubordination and an audit ensued, which revealed the thefts. She was subsequently charged with the embezzlement in July 2010.

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Update (1/21/11): Jackson was sentenced to 7 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.

Former California Bank Exec Indicted For Embezzling $217K

Norma Pena, 37, of Delhi, California, was indicted on charges she embezzled more than $217,000 from a Citibank branch in Ceres, California where she had served as assistant branch manager. The 14 count indictment alleges that Pena created her own teller cash drawer from which she took cash deposits and then attempted to cover up the losses with electronic transfers of the amounts stolen to ATM vault accounts. Pena's scheme spanned nearly a year, from March 2009 through February 2010, according to the indictment. She is also accused in a check kiting scheme - writing bad checks from one account to cover another. Pena faces up to 30 years in prison, plus a $1 million fine and restitution.

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Washington State Bookkeeper Accused Of Embezzling $250K

Scott D. Brixey, 48, of East Wenatchee, Washington, has pleaded not guilty to charges he embezzled at least $250,000 from Bethlehem Construction, where he had been employed as a bookkeeper. Authorities allege Brixey opened three credit card accounts in his own name, but paid for them by issuing checks from the company. Brixey is charged with 13 counts of forgery and one count each of first-degree theft and first-degree identity theft. Brixey reportedly has a 1984 federal fraud conviction in Spokane, Washington and a 2003 conviction for theft from a prior employer, Dolco Packaging.

Read the story here and here.

Update (3/16/11): Brixey, now 49, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree identity theft and six counts of forgery.   He was sentenced to 45 months in prison.