Washington State Woman Pleads Guilty & Gets Sentenced In $300K Embezzlement Case

Tina M. Hunsinger, 48, of Burlington, Washington, pleaded guilty Friday to embezzling at least $300,000 from Commercial Aircraft Interiors, where she had been employed as bookkeeper. Hunsinger was also sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to repay the $300,000. Hunsinger was originally charged with five counts of first-degree theft, but plead out to one count of first-degree theft. The embezzlement occurred between April 2003 and July 2006, according to authorities. Hunsinger reportedly spent the money on personal expenses, credit cards and to support her gambling activities at a local casino.

Read the story here.

Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty To $481K Embezzlement

Sandra L. Savala, 41, of Silvis, Illinois pled guilty yesterday to embezzling some $481,000 from Southeast National Bank in Moline, Illinois, where she had been employed in various positions including bank teller, loan processor and manager. Savala's embezzlement reportedly occurred between July 1996 and February 2004. Savala reportedly made false cash advance entries into bank books and records, transferring the funds to herself. Sentencing is scheduled for next January and faces up to 30 years in prison.

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Update (3/14/10): Sandra L. Savala, now 42, was sentenced to 4 years in prison for her embezzlement of $481,000 from Southeast National Bank. She must also pay full restitution and will have 5 years of supervised release after her jail time.

Former New York Supreme Court Justice Convicted Of Attempted Extortion & Bribery

Thomas J. Spargo, 66, of Albany, New York, a former New York State Supreme Court Justice, was convicted yesterday on charges of attempted extortion and soliciting a bribe. The conviction was the culmination of a three day trial in which it was demonstrated that on November 13, 2003, Spargo solicited a $10,000 payment from an attorney with cases pending before him in Ulster County, while Spargo was serving as a state supreme court justice. The evidence further showed that on December 19, 2003, Spargo directly told the attorney that if he did not pay the money, his cases would be in jeopardy. He faces up to 30 years in prison, plus fines, upon sentencing.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Read the original indictment here.

Democrat Fundraiser Arrested In $74 Million Bank Fraud Case

Hassan Nemazee, 59, of New York City and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nemazee Capital Corporation, was arrested Tuesday and charged with attempting to defraud Citibank out of $74 million in loans. The $74 million in question has reportedly been repaid. Nemazee has been a major fundraiser for the Democrat Party, including Obama and Clinton. Nemazee allegedly provided fraudulent documents to Citibank purporting to show that he owned millions in collateral, but such documents were shown to be "fraudulent and forged." According to reports, Nemazee served as national finance chairman for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2008, and later raised money for Obama after her primary defeat. He also was Senator John Kerry's finance chairman in New York for his 2004 bid for president. FBI agents detained Nemazee at Newark International Airport prior to his planned flight to Rome. Nemazee has been released but is under house arrest having been fitted for an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor his movements. Nemazee faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Meanwhile, Democrats who received donations, including Obama and Clinton, hastily moved to return the money. Research reveals that over the past fifteen years, Nemazee and his wife and family have given nearly $1 million in donations to the Democrats.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Update (7/19/10): Nemazee, now 60, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He had pleaded guilty defrauding Citibank, Bank of America and HSBC of the nearly $300 million with fake collateral.

California Municipal Employee Arrested In $1.7 Million Embezzlement Case

Mary Ann Jones, 38, of Dos Palos, California, turned herself in yesterday after an arrest warrant was issued for her charging her with embezzling more than $1.7 million from the City of Los Banos where she had been employed as a utility "billing technician." According to prosecutors, Jones' scheme lasted from March 2005 to April 2009 whereby she allegedly took cash from daily deposits. Jones also allegedly tried to conceal her actions by making deposits with checks from other departments. A forensic audit revealed that more than $1.7 million is missing. Jones reportedly used the funds to purchase real estate, vehicles, luxury items, vacations and other items for her personal use.

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Update (5/24/13): The City of Los Banos reached an agreement whereby Moss, Levy, Hartzheim, LLP, the accounting firm that missed the fraud, would pay the city $750,000 in restitution.  In 2009, Jones pleaded no contest to six felonies, including five counts of embezzlement and one count of receiving stolen property.

Former Stanford Financial CFO Pleads Guilty In $7 Billion Ponzi Scheme Case

James M. Davis, 60, the former chief financial officer of Houston-based Stanford Financial Group, pleaded guilty yesterday to fraud and obstruction charges related to a $7 billion scheme to defraud investors. On June 18th, Davis was charged in a criminal Information with conspiracy to commit mail, wire and securities fraud; mail fraud; and conspiracy to obstruct an SEC investigation. The scheme involved the fraudulent misappropriation of some $7 billion in investor funds meant to purchase certificates of deposit. Robert Allen Stanford, chairman; Laura Pendergest-Holt, chief investment officer; Gilberto Lopez, chief accounting officer; Mark Kuhrt, global controller; and Leroy King, the administrator and chief executive officer, were indicted on June 18, 2009, on fraud and obstruction charges related to the scheme. Each are charged with conspiracy to commit mail, wire and securities fraud; wire fraud; mail fraud; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, Stanford, Pendergest-Holt and King are charged with conspiracy to obstruct an SEC investigation and obstruction of an SEC investigation.

Read FraudTalk's earlier post on the Stanford Financial fraud case here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

South Carolina Man Senteced In $5.2 Million Embezzlement Case

William J. Trier, II, 57, of Williston, South Carolina, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison for embezzling approximately $5,272,556 from Crane Company, where he had been employed as director of logistics in the shipping department. According to prosecutors, Trier, who was also convicted on money laundering charges, embezzled the funds between 1997 and October 2007. Trier's scheme involved creating 2 phony companies from which he created fraudulent invoices that he approved, had processed and then collected the proceeds for his own purposes.

Read the story here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

USS Midway Museum Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $111K

Veronica Gonzalez Monay, 35, of Eastlake, California, pleaded guilty yesterday to embezzling some $111,000 from the USS Midway Museum, where she had been employed as an accounting manager. According to prosecutors, Monay intercepted cash receipts which she kept for her own benefit. Monay was a three year employee of the museum, according to reports. She faces up to 4 years in prison, plus restitution. Monay was convicted of a similar crime in 1997, but it was expunged in 2004, according to reports.

Read the story here, here and here.

Former New York Bank Manager Pleads Guilty To $700K Embezzlement

Milagros Rodriguez, 40, of Garnerville, New York, pleaded gulity to embezzling some $700,000 from Sound Federal Savings and Loan Association, and then at Hudson City Savings Bank after it acquired Sound Federal, for whom she had been employed as a teller and later as bank manager. Rodriguez had been employed by the banks for 7 years and surrendered last April after she was charged. Her plea was to one count of embezzling bank funds and he faces up to 30 years in prison, plus fines and restitution. According to prosecutors, Rodriguez' scheme lasted from approximately April 2002 through March 2009, wherein she stole the funds from client accounts.

Read the story here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Update (3/23/10): Milagros Rodriguez was sentenced to 33 months in prison for her embezzlement.

Iowa School Administrator Charged With Embezzling As Much As $250K

Jamie Ann May, 42, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was charged with embezzling as much as $250,000 from the Cedar Rapids Community School District for which she has been employed as a secretary in the accounting department. May has been arrested on suspicion of "first degree theft" following an internal investigation conducted by the school system. The thefts are believed to have occurred between 2008 and 2009. May's responsibilities reportedly included the handling of cash receipts.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (4/2/10): May reportedly died last November from heart problems following a battle with breast cancer. The prosecutor's office dropped the charges against May after her death. However, the total amount she embezzled was nearly $600,000, according to investigators. The thefts commenced as early as 2002 and continued until the time of her arrest.

Read the story and watch the video here.

Update (4/11/10): May's embezzlement is believed to be $587,784 over a 7 year period between 2002 and 2009.

Read a nice article profiling the case here.

Nebraska Woman Sentenced In $118K Embezzlement Case

Bonnie F. Kleewein, 44, of North Platte, Nebraska, was sentenced to 6 months in jail and ordered to pay full restitution for embezzling some $118,000 from her employer, Dr. David Zalewski, for whom she had been employed as a receptionist. According to prosecutors, Kleewein's scheme lasted for two years between 2005 and 2007 wherein she took cash from patients but marked the payments as credit-card transactions. She also reportedly altered checks Dr. Zalewski wrote and used them for her own benefit. In a separate matter, Kleewein was accused of stealing money from her invalid mother's bank account, writing checks from it for her own benefit.

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California Broker Pleads Guilty To $1.4 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Kirtikumar Menon, 41, of Mill Valley, California, pleaded guilty Monday to 8 felony counts related to the embezzlement of nearly $1.4 million from six clients through a series of complex real estate and financial deals made through his real estate company, Argentum Real Estate and Mortgage Inc. She charged include embezzlement from elders, forgery, preparing false documentary evidence and writing a check against insufficient funds. Menon faces up to 8 years in jail upon sentencing which is scheduled for September 23rd.

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South Dakota Woman Pleads Not Guilty In Alleged $100K Embezzlement From Fire Department

Jennifer Fox, 44, of Rapid City, South Dakota, has plead not guilty to charges she embezzled more than $100,000 from the Hill City Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service where she had been employed. The embezzlement reportedly occurred between January 2005 and February 2008. Fox faces up to 15 years in prison, plus restitution and fines.

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South Carolina Woman Sentenced In $400K Embezzlement Case

Chandra Brooks Spigner, 44, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was sentenced to 37 months in prison yesterday for embezzling nearly $400,000 from the St. Matthews branch of CPM Federal Credit Union where she had been employed. According to investigators, Spigner's scheme lasted from August 2002 until June 2004 when she was fired after it was revealed that she stole $398,838.47 by creating fictitious loans and then withdrawing the funds. Spigner attempted to conceal her actions by making payments on some of the fraudulent loans and by manipulating the bank's books and records, according to reports.

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Former Connecticut Non-Profit Director Sentenced In $150K Embezzlement Case

Jonathan D. Holden, 33, now of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to six months in prison for embezzling some $150,000 from the Americorps program in Meriden, Connecticut, where he had served as a director. According to prosecutors, Holden, who previously resided in Middletown, Connecticut, issued paychecks to other individuals which he then cashed for his own benefit. The total amount stolen is believed to be $152,502. He was also ordered to pay full restitution and back taxes.

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Indiana Lawyer Commits Suicide On Eve Of Trial For Embezzling Client Funds

William G. Crabtree II, 46, an attorney residing in Dyer, Indiana, with an office in Schererville, was found dead in his home yesterday, apparently a suicide, on the day he was to stand trial for embezzling some $2.2 million from his clients. Prosecutors allege Crabtree stole the money from his clients between 2006 and 2008 by setting up a series of forged checks, phony receipts and bank transfers between his law firm and a title company he owned. The death is still under investigation although it has been ruled not a homicide.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

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New York Title Insurance Company Exec Charged With Embezzling $4.7 Million

Brian H. Madden, 55, of Greenlawn, New York, has been arrested and charged with embezzling some $4.7 million from three title insurance companies he controlled. According to prosecutors, Madden was the president and co-founder of Liberty Title Agency, LLC, one of the largest in New York State. He also owned Skyline Title, LLC, and GNY Liberty Abstract, LLC. Prosecutors allege that Madden co-mingled and misappropriated escrow funds to the tune of $4.7 million. He has been charged with one count each of wire fraud, money laundering, and insurance fraud.

Read the story here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Pennsylvania Swim Club Manager Charged In $112K Embezzlement Case

Jose M. Sotillo, 33, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, has been charged with embezzling some $112,000 from the Suburban Swim Center in Newtown, PA, where he had been employed as aquatics director and manager. According to prosecutors, beginning in December 2007, Sotillo wrote numerous checks to himself, his Internet marketing company, JB International LLC, and for cash. Sotillo also allegedly used the center's American Express credit card to take out cash advances and to pay for personal expenses at a number of retail outlets. The total amount stolen by Sotillo is believed to be $112,219.81. Meanwhile, the club was forced to close down after more than half a century as a result of not being able to meet its utility bills.

Read the story here and here.

Illinois Man Pleads Guilty And Is Sentenced In $580K Embezzlement Case

Earl Reisler, 28, of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling some $580,000 from American Inter-Continental University, where he had served as an assistant controller. According to prosecutors, Reisler wrote 141 checks to himself between March 26, 2006, and July 24, 2008. He also reportedly made fraudulent entries in the school's bank ledger in an effort to cover up his misdeeds. Reisler used the stolen money to fuel an online gambling habit, according to reports.

Read the story here.

Former Georgia Bookkeeper Found Guilty In $650K Embezzlement Scheme

Charlotte Jo Baghose, 67, of Gainesville, Georgia, was found guilty by a jury of embezzling some $650,000 from ZF Industries, where she had been employed as a bookkeeper for many years. The jury found Baghose guilty of 25 felony counts of forgery and one count of theft by taking. According to prosecutors, Baghose misappropriated the funds by issuing some 450 checks to herself from 2003 to 2007.

Read the story here and here.

Read the original indictment here.

Former New Mexico Secretary Of State Indicted For Misuse Of Voter Education Funds

Rebecca Vigil-Giron, 54, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the former New Mexico Secretary of State, was indicted together with three other individuals on charges of fraud, tax fraud and money laundering in connection with the alleged misuse of federal funds for a voter education project. Together with Vigil-Giron, Democratic Party consultant Armando Gutierrez of Corpus Christi, Texas, and lobbyists Elizabeth and Joseph Kupfer of Rio Rancho were indicted on 50 counts each. Under the Help America Vote Act, more than $6 million for a voter education campaign was allotted, but investigators could only find proof that $2.5 million worth of work was done under Vigil-Giron's watch.

Read the story here, here and here.

Former Ohio Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling Nearly $100K From Union

Michael P. Kelly, 55, of Crestline, Ohio, pleaded guilty recently to embezzling nearly $100,000 from the Local 586 of the United Transportation Union while serving as its secretary and treasurer. Kelly had been employed with Crestline CSX. Prosecutors alleged that from January 2004 to November 2006, Kelly used his position with the union to divert $97,971by issuing checks to himself. He attempted to cover up his thefts by forging the union president's signature on the checks.

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Colorado Arts Center Employee Suspected In $365K Embezzlement

Marlana L. Howell, 49, of Snowmass Village, Colorado, has been named in a civil action filed by the Anderson Ranch Arts Center as being suspected of having embezzled some $365,000 from the non-profit for which she served as controller. The civil suit seeks to freeze Howell's accounts and garnish her assets.

Read the story here.

Developing...

Coast Guard Official In Connecticut Embezzled $1.4 Million Before Suicide

Alex Simonka, 51, of Ledyard, Connecticut, embezzled $1.4 million before committing suicide, according to the US Coast Guard. Simonka was an official with the Coast Guard Academy's Athletic Department and stole the funds from the athletic association fund over a period of five years between 2004 and 2009. Officials reported that Simonka admitted to federal investigators that he also took additional funds between 1999 and 2000. The scheme reportedly involved Simonka writing checks to himself and disguising the withdrawals by creating a record of "dummy checks" that appeared to be payments in equivalent amounts to legitimate-appearing vendors. The money was allegedly used to pay Simonka's gambling debts. He was found dead in his automobile from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, parked in his assigned academy parking spot on March 14, 2009.

Read the story here and here.

New York Dairy Cooperative Administrator Pleads Guilty To $600K Embezzlement

Cheryl A. Nelli, 54, of DeWitt, New York, has plead guilty to embezzling nearly $600,000 from the Dairylea cooperative based in Syracuse where she had been employed as an administrator. According to prosecutors, Nelli's scheme involved inflating the amount the cooperative owed to farmers and created phony entities she would issue checks to and take the proceeds. The scheme started in May 2002 and continued until May 2009 when it was discovered and Nelli was terminated. The amount stolen totaled $595,000.

Read the story here, here and here.

Former CFO In Florida Sentenced For Embezzling $1.5 Million From Magazine Publisher

Harvey Fein, 68, of Coral Springs, Florida, was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzling some $1.5 million from Florida Design Inc., a magazine publishing company for which he had served as chief financial officer. Prosecutors alleged that Fein stole the money between 2001 and 2005 by creating false accounts and depositing forged checks into his own accounts. He also filed false tax returns, according to prosecutors.

Read the story here and here.

Read the original DOJ indictment announcement here.

California Church Pastor Charged With Embezzling At Least $800K

The Rev. E. Joshua Sims, 47, pastor of the Double Rock Baptist Church in Compton, California, was arrested last week and charged with misappropriating more than $800,000 from the church. According to prosecutors, Sims diverted church funds into a personal account between March 2000 and September 2008. He reportedly took "thousands" of dollars each month in "housing allowances" not approved by the church board. At a meeting with the board, Sims reportedly admitted that more than $1 million was missing from church coffers. The funds are believed to have been used by Sims to buy a Mercedes-Benz automobile and to build a pool at his home.

Read the story here, here and here.

Oklahoma Couple Indicted For Misappropriating $461K From Association

Anna Marie Naukam, 51, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and her husband, Eugene M. Naukam III, 64, have been indicted for misappropriating $461,586 in funds from the Oklahoma CASA Association for which Anna Marie had served as Executive Director. She has been charged with one count of conspiracy and 148 counts of embezzlement. Eugene faces one count of conspiracy and 41 counts of embezzlement. The association receives taxpayer funds as well as public donations to help abused and neglected children. Nevertheless, a state audit found that the Naukams misspent more than $650,000 in association funds. Anna Marie had been employed for more than 10 years while her husband had served as a volunteer with the association. The Naukams are reported to have had financial difficulties, including a personal bankruptcy. Prosecutors allege the couple used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including expensive vacations, cosmetic surgery, football tickets and other personal expenses.

Read the story here and here.

Update: New Hampshire Woman Pleads Guilty In $300+K Embezzlement Case

Rebecca McGuire, 52, of Amherst, New Hampshire pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $300,000 from the Jasper Valley Swim and Tennis Club between 1998 and 2007 where she had served as a board member and treasurer. McGuire's scheme involved paying her mortgage and credit-card bills from the club's accounts and writing checks to herself. She is believed to have embezzled $311,500. Sentencing is scheduled in September.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here.

Hat tip to one of our faithful readers.

Virginia Man Pleads Guilty To Operating Ponzi Scheme

Jeffrey Tuggle, 45 of Lynchburg, Virginia, waived his right to indictment and instead pleaded guilty to a four-count Information Friday, including two counts of tax fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of failing to file a tax return in connection with an investment scheme that cost 19 investors some $400,000. According to prosecutors, between 2004 and 2006, Tuggle devised a Ponzi scheme that promised potential investors returns of between 30-40 percent. He told investors that he was working with a group of lawyers to provide their clients with immediate money based on legal claims. Tuggle reportedly spent the investor funds on a gambling habit. He faces up to 27 years in prison, plus fines and restitution.

Read the story here.

Florida Man Accused Of Running $4 Million Ponzi Scheme

Paul Robert Karr of North Miami Beach, Florida, has been charged by federal authorities in Florida of operating a Ponzi scheme that has cost investors more than $4 million. According to prosecutors, Karr, formerly known as Paolo Roberto Correa, allegedly operated the investment operation between January 2002 and November 2004 and used investment funds for his own personal use. Karr's scheme involved soliciting investments for the purported purpose of trading foreign currencies in the international foreign exchange market. The fraud was revealed after a Commodity Futures Trading Commission investigation and Karr's company collapsed in November 2004.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Oklahoma Church Pastor Sentenced For Embezzling $170K

Tim Zeman, 39, of Sayre, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay restitution for embezzling some $170,000 from the Church of the Nazarene, also in Sayre, where he had served as a pastor. Zeman reportedly had previously spent time in federal prison for fraud. Details of the embezzlement have not been released.

Read the story here and here.

Watch the video on the story here.

Minnesota Woman Pleads Guilty In $1 Million Embezzlement Case

Connie Marie Hanson, 55, of Apple Valley, Minnesota, pleaded guilty recently to one count of "making a false statement to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs" in connection with her misappropriation of some $1 million from the government agency. In her plea agreement, Hanson, admitted that from 2006 through 2008, she took hundreds of thousands of dollars from the veterans' bank accounts and used the money to support a gambling habit. She faces up to five years in prison.

Read the story here and here.

Update: Hanson was sentenced to 55 months in prison on March 2, 2010.

Former Louisiana Hotel Finance Director Pleads Guilty To $2 Million Embezzlement

Shannon L. Harp, age 38, a formerly of Mandeville, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with the theft of more than $2 million from Marriott Corporation where she had been employed as Assistant Controller and Director of Finance. According to prosecutors, Harp admitted to stealing cash meant for making change at the hotel's bars, restaurant and shops over a four year period ending in 2006. She faces up to 20 years in prison, plus fines and restitution, upon sentencing, which is scheduled for November 3rd.

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Read the Bill of Information here.

Former Bookkeeper For Virginia Lawfirm Charged In $150K Embezzlement Case

Norma M. Blackwell, 47, now of Sebring, Florida, was charged with embezzling some $150,000 from the Virginia Beach law firm of Shuttleworth, Ruloff, Giordano & Swain, where she had been employed as bookkeeper from 2004 to 2007. According to prosecutors, Blackwell had checks written to herself and her husband and had them interspersed with legitimate ones when she had them authorized. She is also accused of causing wire transfers from law firm accounts to her own and her husband's accounts. The total she is accused of stealing is $153,000. The law firm, now known as Shuttleworth, Ruloff, Swain, Haddad & Morecock, is perhaps best known for representing sports stars such as Michael Vick and Allen Iverson.

Read the story here and here.

Update: Serial Massachusetts Fraudster Formally Indicted For Embezzlement

Kimberlee Anne "Kim" Mastronardi, 50, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, was indicted by an Essex County, Massachusetts Grand Jury on charges she embezzled more than half a million dollars from Bartlett & Steadman Plumbing Company, also of Marblehead, for who she had been employed as a bookkeeper since 2004. Specifically, Mastronardi was indicted on four counts of larceny over $250 and one count of falsifying corporation books for the alleged embezzlement of $531,605.86. According to investigators, Mastronardi, who had control over the payroll for the company, essentially paid herself double. She also paid personal credit cards with company funds and may have also defrauded the company 401(k) plan, according to prosecutors. In 1998, Mastronardi was convicted on four counts of larceny, forgery and falsifying books and received a one year suspended sentence. In 2001, Mastronardi was charged with multiple counts of credit card fraud and identity fraud. Some of those charges were dismissed, but she plead guilty to others and received a 2 year suspended sentence in 2003. She faces up to 30 years in prison, plus restitution if convicted on all of the current charges.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here.

Update: Arizona Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $650K

Yolanda Denise Enos, 46, of Mesa, Arizona, pleaded guilty this week to one count of "Theft in Excess of $1,000 on an Indian Reservation" and admitted that she had embezzled nearly $650,000 from Noline and Smith L.L.C., dba JR’s Convenience Store in Scottsdale, Arizona where she had been employed as office manager and bookkeeper. According to prosecutors, Enos took cash in random amounts from the store's cashier envelopes from January 3, 2002 and January 31, 2006. The total amount stolen was $649,675.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Former Washington State CFO Sentenced In $300K Embezzlement Scheme

Christopher W. Phillips, 63, of Tacoma, Washington, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $300,000 from Vitech, a breath mint company based in Kent, Washington, where he had been employed as CFO. According to prosecutors, between January 2002 and October 2005, Phillips used company credit cards to pay for personal expenses and to maintain a lavish lifestyle. As a result the company, in financial difficulty, was sold for "a fraction of its worth" and went out of business, according to prosecutors.

Read the story here and here.

Update: California Law Firm Administrator Pleads Guilty To $1.3 Million Embezzlement

Regina M. Schenck, 45, of Herald, California, has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $1.3 million from the Sacramento law office of Diepenbrock Harrison where she had been employed as an administrator. Specifically, Schenck pleaded guilty to one count of computer fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. Prosecutors had alleged that starting in 1999 Schenck wrote law firm checks to pay her own bills, created false documents and lied to firm partners to get them to authorize checks she secretly used to buy horses and a horse trailer, among other things. Schenck had been employed by the law firm since 1994 and served as office administrator since 2000.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Pennsylvania Title Insurance Exec Charged With Embezzlement

Ellery A. Crissman, II, 44, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania was charged with embezzling some $1.6 million from Fidelity Closing Services LLC, a title insurance company based in State College, Pennsylvania, where he served as president and treasurer. According to the one count criminal Information, Crissman took the funds from an escrow account between September 2007 and December 2008. The stolen funds were reportedly used to pay the operating costs of other companies he owned, to make personal loans to a State College car dealership and to make payments to his ex-wife.

Read the story here and here.

Update (8/25/10): Crissman was sentenced to a minimum 57 months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $1.6 million from escrow company, Fidelity Closing Services. He must also play $1.56 million in restitution to some 50 victims.

Former Texas Controller Pleads No Contest To $200+K Embezzlement

Catherine O. Tisue, 58, of Cibolo, Texas, pleaded no contest yesterday to charges she embezzled more than $200,000 from her employer, F.A. Nunnelly Co., a local construction company and more than $13,000 from the San Antonio Gun Club-Women's Skeet League where she had served as the financial controller and treasurer, respectively. According to court filings, from 2003 to 2006, Tisue took checks intended for construction vendors and signed them over to the gun club skeet league's bank account before distributing the money to her own accounts. She has been ordered to pay restitution as well.

Read the story here.

Update: Ex-GSA Accountant Sentenced In $600K Embezzlement Case

Michael T. Harrington, 44, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, a former General Services Administration accounting supervisor, was sentenced to three years and one month in prison for embezzling nearly $600,000 from the federal government agency. Harrington pleaded guilty to the embezzlement last February, admitting that he created 13 fraudulent refund vouchers payable to a phony business he had created. The scheme lasted between May 2006 and May 2008 and the total amount stolen was $593,549.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here.

2 Former Employees Of Mississippi Bank Investigated In $1 Million Embezzlement Case

Margaret S. Migues and Doris "Willie" Burney are being investigated for stealing more than $1 million from elderly customer accounts at the Hancock Bank in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where they had been employed as branch operations manager and teller, respectively. The two former employees were fired from the bank last month after an internal investigation revealed the thefts. The bank has referred the case to the FBI. At this time, neither Migues (pictured to the left) or Burney (pictured to the right) have been charged. The internal investigation revealed that the two had taken funds from more than 20 accounts and that they had targeted elderly customers. The bank has reportedly replaced the funds with interest in the affected accounts.

Read the story here and here.

Former Ohio CFO Sentenced For Embezzlement

Brent F. Liller, 41, of Vienna, Ohio, was sentenced to five years probation with the first 90 days in jail, for embezzling $167,000 from Valley Electrical Consolidated Inc. of Girard, Ohio, where he was employed as chief financial officer. According to prosecutors, Liller set up phony employees to misuse company credit cards.

Read the story here and here.

Former California CFO Sentenced In $1.1 Million Embezzlement Case

Ajay Chandra, 53, of Stockton, California, has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to four years and four months in prison for embezzling some $1.1 million from Central Valley Concrete and Trucking of Merced, California, where he had been employed as chief financial officer. According to authorities, Chandra, who was arrested on June 6, 2007, stole the money between September 2005 and May 2007 by issuing checks to various insurance companies, endorsing them and depositing them into his own personal checking account at the Bank of Stockton. Chandra reportedly made more than 20 such deposits, some in increments of $50,000 to $60,000 and more, until a teller at the bank questioned his authority to do so. More than $800,000 was recovered in his bank account.

Read the story here and here.

California Insurance Manager Charged In $500K Embezzlement Scheme

Michele Renee Ganczarski, 45, of Santa Clara, California, has been charged with embezzling $561,927 from MacCorkle Insurance Service in San Mateo, California, where she had been employed as an accounting manager. According to prosecutors, Ganczarski wrote 87 company checks to herself and deposited them into her personal checking account over a nearly two year period between October 4, 2007 and June 27, 2009. She was responsible for issuing checks from the company trust account to pay for clients’ insurance premiums. Specifically, Ganczarski was charged with 20 counts of embezzlement greater than $400, 19 counts of obtaining personal identification information for an unlawful purpose and 19 counts of forgery.

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Georgia Attorney Indicted In $950K Embezzlement Scheme

Benjamin Sheftall Eichholz, 58, and an attorney based in Savannah, Georgia, has been indicted on 77 felony counts alleging he embezzled some $950,000 from employee pension benefit plans for employees of his own law firm. According to prosecutors, Eichholz' scheme began in or about 2001 and lasted until late 2008. Eichholz is also alleged to have filed false documents with the US Department of Labor in an effort to cover up the scheme.

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Read the DOJ announcement here.