Virginia Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $570K From American Diabetes Association

Adrienne Carrington, 56, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud admitting she embezzled nearly $570,000 from the American Diabetes Association where she had been employed as senior financial analyst and subsequently treasury manager.  According to authorities, over a period of  9 years, from August 2001 through September 2010, Carrington initiated at least 133 unauthorized wire transfers totaling $569,827.48 to an account she controlled for her own benefit.  Carrington reportedly spent some of the ill-gotten gains on gambling and supporting a lavish lifestyle.  Carrington allegedly attempted to conceal the thefts by altering internal accounting documents to make the fraudulent funds transfers appear to be legitimate business expenses. 

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Washington State Man Sentenced For Embezzling $459K From Microsoft Corporation In Vendor Scheme

Robert D. Curry, 41, of Seattle, Washington, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for embezzling $459,000 from Microsoft Corporation, where he had been employed as director of business development for Microsoft's Strategic Partnerships Team in the Online Audience Business Group.  According to authorities, Curry created a shell company, falsified invoices and ultimately attempted to make off with nearly $2 million from the company.  Curry reportedly used an "unwitting" third party, a legitimate Microsoft vendor, Pentad Solutions, to funnel fraudulent payments for goods and services for his own benefit.  In a letter to the court, Curry apologized for his actions while asserting he was angry at his employer in part because his manager would humiliated him on several occasions.  Curry, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, has also been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $459,000.


Read the story here and here.

Former Treasurer For Wisconsin Church Sentenced For Embezzling $140K

John L. Roenz, 63, of Neillsville, Wisconsin, was sentenced for embezzling more than $140,000 from the Calvary Lutheran Church where he had served as treasurer.  As part of his plea agreement, Roenz agreed to serve 6 months in prison and pay restitution in the amount  of $127,555.  Roenz pleaded guilty on June 29, 2011 to one felony count of theft and two felony counts of fraud.   Roenz was originally charged last March with 12 felony fraud counts.  According to authorities, Roenz wrote 1,176 checks to himself over an 8 year period totaling $140,055, beginning in 2003.  However, the statute of limitations only allowed him being charged dating back to 2004.  Roenz had reportedly served as treasurer of the church for 24 years.

Read the story here.

Former Non-Profit Exec In Alaska Indicted For Embezzling $500K From Whaling Commission

Maggie Ahmaogak, 61, of Barrow, Alaska, has been indicted on charges she embezzling nearly $500,000 from the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission where she had served as executive director.  According to prosecutors, over a period of at least 3 years, from 2004 until 2007, Ahmaogak siphoned funds from the Commission in a variety of means for her own benefit, including taking payroll advances never repaid.  Ahmaogak had reportedly served as executive director of the non-profit for 17 years.  She is the wife of local politician, George Ahmaogak Sr.  Reports suggest Maggie Ahmaogak blamed a gambling habit for her actions.

Read the story here and here.

California Accountant Arrested For Allegedly Embezzing More Than $785K From Local Construction Company

Raeanne La Casse, 57, of Victorville, California has been arrested on suspicion she embezzled more than $785,000 from Eberhardt Construction where she had been employed as an accountant.  According to authorities, La Casse forged company checks for her own benefit, including to make payments on her house, car and credit cards.  She had worked for the construction company since 2000. 

Developing...

Read the story here.

Massachusetts Woman Charged With Embezzling $250K From Real Estate Concern

Cheryl Harvey, 51, of Lynn, Massachusetts, has been charged with embezzling nearly $250,000 from Century 21 Hughes Realty of Billerica, where she had been employed as a payroll clerk.  According to authorities, Harvey, over a period of nearly three years, beginning in July 2008, wrote at least 363 fraudulent checks totaling $247,713 to herself or her own benefit.  The embezzlement scheme was discovered in the course of an IRS audit, according to reports.  She has been released on $5,000 bond.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: Reader Joe.

California Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $319K From Utility

Donnie Alan Thomas, 47, of San Francisco, California has pleaded guilty to embezzling some $319,000 from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission where he had been employed as a work crew supervisor.  Specifically, Thomas pleaded guilty to four felony counts -- forging requests for payment, presenting fraudulent claims to the city, embezzlement, and making a false statement for the purpose of reducing premiums, rates or cost of worker's compensation insurance -- and a misdemeanor count of failing to file a return.  Thomas, who was originally arrested in 2009, reportedly worked on private electrical contracts through his company Tri Delta Electric Inc. while on SFPUC time.  His scheme spanned at least 4 years, from 2003 through 2007.  With his plea agreement, Thomas will be sentenced to 3 years in prison and must pay restitution in the amount of $319,000. 

Read the story here and here.

Former CFO Of Alabama Company Pleads Guilty To Embezzling More Than $1.2 Million

Barry A. Thomas, 48, of Birmingham, Alabama, has pleaded guilty to charged he embezzled $1,226,277 from Central Leasing Corporation where he had been employed as chief financial officer.  Thomas was charged last July with wire fraud.  Prosecutors alleged that Thomas embezzled from the company over a 7 year period, from July 2003 until August 2010, by manipulating the payroll system to pay himself more than his regular salary.  Thomas faces up to 20 years in prison.

Read the story here.

See the DOJ announcements here and here.

Illinois Woman Charged With Embezzling $143K From Municipality

Leslie E. Dona, 41, of Wood River, Illinois, has been charged with embezzling nearly $143,000 from the City of Wood River, where she had been employed as assistant finance director.    According to authorities, Dona wrote numerous unauthorized payroll checks to herself over a period of at least four years, beginning in 2007.  Dona had been a 17 year veteran employee of the municipality.

Read the story here and here.

Update (7/24/12): Dona, now 42, was sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of theft of between $10,000 to $100,000. 

California Woman Charged With Embezzling $712K From Church

Eleanor Jane Zapanta, 51, of Guerneville, California, has been arrested and charged with embezzling $712,948 from the Center for Spiritual Living of Santa Rosa church where she had served as business manager.  According to prosecutors, Zapanta wrote more than 250 unauthorized checks to herself or her own benefit over a period of at least 6 years, from 2004 to 2010.  She has been charged with 7 felony counts of grand theft by an employee, 7 counts of forging business documents with a white-collar crime enhancement for fraud in excess of $500,000.  Zapanta faces up to 12 years in state prison, if convicted.  The embezzlement is believed to be the largest in Northern California this year.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: Fraudtalk reader Joe and reader Cheryl.

Update (10/10/11): Zapanta has plead not guilty to the charges.

Update (3/12/12): Zapanta has agreed to a plea agreement, pleading guilty to embezzling nearly $713,000 and has been sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Southern California Bookkeeper Arrested For Allegedly Embezzling More Than $3 Million From Club

Tara Virginia Moore, 39, of Loma Portal, California, was arrested and charged yesterday with embezzling more than $3 million from Jack's La Jolla, where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  Jack's La Jolla, described as a high-end restaurant and bar, reportedly shuttered two years ago amid "extensive monetary losses," now attributed to Moore's alleged thefts.  Details regarding how Moore misappropriated the money have not been disclosed.  However, she reportedly had worked at the club for about four hears, beginning in 2005.  Authorities reported that some $400,000 in assets have been seized at Moore's home, which she shares with her Navy-physician husband and three young children.

Developing...

Read the story here and here.

Update (11/15/11): Moore has now been additionally charged with stealing more than $1.8 million from her former mother-in-law, according to reports.  She has pleaded not guilty to charges of felony financial elder abuse, grand theft and forgery.

Update (7/9/12): Read an update of the story here.

Kansas Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $100K From Hotel Concern

Tamie E. Vahsholtz, 50, of Emporia, Kansas, has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000 from the Candlewood Suites where she had been employed as hotel manager.  According to authorities, Vahsholtz issued numerous checks and used a company credit card to benefit herself, her family and Candlewood bookkeeper Marguerite “Peggy” Williams.  She is allged to have stolen $199,403 from Candlepoint over a nearly 2 1/2 year period, between April 1, 2008, and August 18, 2010.  Vahsholtz reportedly worked at the hotel for 25 years before she was fired in August 2010 after the alleged thefts surfaced. 

Read the story here and here.

North Carolina Woman Charged With Embezzling Nearly $200K From County Coffers

Kaye Barbour Ward, 60, of Four Oaks, North Carolina, has been charged with embezzling nearly $200,000 from Johnston County where she had served as administrative secretary and manager of the county auditorium for the Johnston County Cooperative Extension.  According to prosecutors, over a period of 7 years, from September 2003 to September 2010, Ward issued and forged at least 313 fraudulent checks drawn from county coffers for her own benefit.  She has been charged with three counts each of forgery and uttering forged paper, as well as one count each of obtaining property by false pretenses, embezzlement and felony larceny.  Ward is also accused of stealing more than $15,000 in cash receipts.  A total of $195,455 is alleged to have been misappropriated by Ward.

Read the story here and here.

West Virginia Man Indicted On Charges He Embezzled Nearly $250K From Fire Department

Stephen Wilson, 61, of Keyser, West Virginia, has been indicted on charges he embezzled nearly $250,000 from the Short Gap Fire Department where he had served as treasurer.  According to prosecutors, Wilson's scheme spanned a 14 year period which involved transferring department funds to his personal business accounts and to pay his personal bills.  He was charged with embezzlement and falsifying accounts, both felonies.  According to reports, Wilson was also charged with seven counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm for bringing a gun to the last board meeting that he attended and threatening to take his own life.  A total of $242,269.15 is alleged to have been misappropriated by Wilson.

Read the story here and here.

Update (4/9/12): Wilson has pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement. 

West Virginia Woman Sentenced In $300K Bank Embezzlement Case

Katina Dawn Sweitzer, 38, of Fairview, West Virginia, was sentenced to ten years on home confinement and ordered to make restitution for embezzling some $300,000 from Huntington Bank where she had been employed.  According to authorities, Sweitzer was a cocaine user.

Read the story here and here.

Seems pretty lenient, IMHO...

Former Bookkeeper For Kansas Company Indicted On Charges He Embezzled More Than $2 Million

William H. Nolan, 50, of Wichita, Kansas, has been indicted on charges he embezzled more than $2 million from Steckline Communications, Inc., where he had served as bookkeeper.  According to prosecutors, Nolan forged checks to pay for his credit card purchases totaling nearly $864,000.  He is also accused of making electronic transfers from the company’s accounts to pay for another $1,180,000 in purchases for his own benefit.  Specifically, Nolan has been charged with one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.  He faces up to 20 years in prison, plus fines and restitution.

Read the story here and here.

Update (7/23/12): Nolan, now 51, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one felony count of wire fraud.    He was also ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution.  Nolan admitted that he stole from several companies whose books he was keeping, including LS Media, Steckline Communications, Inc., Mid-America Ag Network, Inc., and Broadcast Technical Associates, LLC.