FraudTalk Celebrates One Year

White Collar Fraud Talk today celebrates its one year anniversary. Nearly 1,000 stories have been posted, along with numerous reader comments. We appreciate all of our readers, followers and posters. Comments and story leads are always welcome.

California Bookkeeper & Husband Charged In $1.3 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Desiree Hererra, 36, and her husband, Ruben Hererra, 37, have been charged with 14 counts of grand theft, money laundering and filing a false income tax return in connection with the alleged embezzlement of some $1.3 million from County Building Materials, dba Payless Hardware and Rockery where Desiree had been employed as an accounts receivable clerk. According to the criminal complaint, Desiree embezzled the funds between 2002 and 2009 and then she and her husband, Ruben, laundered the funds through their own bank accounts.

Read the story here and here.

Idaho Woman Accused Of Embezzling $450K From Medical Practice

Yolanda Williams, 36, of Rathdrum, Idaho, has been arrested and accused of embezzling as much as $451,000 from the Post Falls Family Medicine Practice where she had been employed as office manager. Specifically, Williams has been charged on multiple counts of grand theft and forgery. Over a six year period, beginning in July 2003, Williams allegedly made fraudulent electronic transfers and forged checks which she deposited into her own accounts. Prosecutors also allege that Williams then altered the books and records in an attempt to conceal her thefts.

Read the story here.

Update: Iowa Political Acitivits Pleads Not Guilty In $5.9 Million Embezzlement Case

Phyllis Stevens, 58, of Des Moines, Iowa, who is accused of embezzling more than $5.9 million from Aviva USA, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Stevens faces 18 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, computer fraud and aggravated identity theft which were handed down in an indictment last week. Stevens, pictured left, had been a 35 year employee of Aviva and its predecessor companies and was a well known political activist for same sex marriage and gay rights. She and her partner, Marla Stevens, pictured right, gave tens of thousands to Democrat candidates, PACs and causes, including Barack Obama. Some of these have quickly moved to return the funds. Stevens' embezzlement scheme lasted at least 4 years and involved more than 200 fraudulent transactions.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here and here.

Wyoming Woman, Convicted Of Embezzling "Hundreds Of Thousands," Still At Large

Julie A. (Jacobsen) Deliramich, 57, of Gillette, Wyoming, who was found guilty on 10 felony counts of forgery and embezzlement last Friday, is still at large. As a bookkeeper with the Fox Park Homeowners Association from 1998 to 2003, Deliramich reportedly embezzled "hundreds of thousands" of dollars through forged signatures and a company bank account. She was also sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on tax evasion charges in 2006. Deliramich skipped her verdict reading and is currently being sought for sentencing. She faces up to 10 years in prison on each of the 10 counts.

Read the story here and here.

Update (9/22/10) Deliramich was arrested last night in Washington State nearly a year after her conviction on 10 felony counts related to her embezzlement of "hundreds of thousands" of dollars from the Fox Park Homeowners Association in Gillette, Wyoming. Prosecutors put the amount stolen at about $398,000. Apparently this is not her first felony conviction - Deliramich had previously pleaded guilty to tax evasion and spent 14 months in federal prison.

Oklahoma Couple Plead Guilty To Embezzling $120K

Lori and Michael Edmonds of Hollis, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $120,000 from the Hollis Cotton Oil Mill where she was the head bookkeeper and he was a truck driver. Upon entering their guilty plea they were each sentenced to 9 years in prison, plus a 20 year suspended sentence. They were also ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution each.

Read the story here.

Iowa Finance Director Arrested For Allegedly Embezzling At Least $1 Million

Randy Gene Stringer, 46, of Clive, Iowa, was arrested last Thursday for allegedly embezzling at least $1 million from Des Moines-based DES Staffing Services, Inc., a temporary employment agency for which he had served as finance director. According to court records, Stringer allegedly withdrew as much as $3.6 million from company accounts since 2007. It is also alleged that Stringer transferred some of the funds to accounts controlled by his girlfriend, Yasmin De La Rosa Duran, in the Domincan Republic. Meanwhile, it is noted that Stringer is married to Vickie Stringer.

Read the story here and here.

Update (10/26/10): Stringer was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $911,000.

Update: New Hampshire Woman Sentenced In $300K Swim & Tennis Club Embezzlement Case

Rebecca McGuire, 52, of Amherst, New Hampshire, has been sentenced to to three concurrent 3 1⁄2-to 7-year terms for embezzling $311,500 from the Jasper Valley Swim and Tennis Club where she had been employed as a volunteer treasurer. A two year investigation revealed that over a nearly ten year period, McGuire had withdrawn cash and written at least 656 fraudulent checks on Jasper Valley's accounts to cash or to herself. According to McGuire's attorney, she has been making arrangements to satisfy the $300,000 restitution order. A separate civil suit by Jasper Valley to recover the loss has reportedly been settled. McGuire who was originally arrested and indicted last November, plead guilty three felony counts of "theft by unauthorized taking" in August 2009.

Read FraudTalk's earlier posts on this story here, here and here.

Read the story here and here.

Photo: McGuire hugs a relative just prior to sentencing; courtesy of anonymous FraudTalk reader

South Dakota Man Indicted In Alleged $161K Embezzlement Case

Anthony Noel Weber, 41, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was indicted on charges he allegedly embezzled some $161,000 from Hurley's Religious Goods Store, where he had been employed as a manager. According to prosecutors, Weber skimmed funds and wrote fraudulent checks from store accounts over a four year period from 2005 to 2009. Weber was indicted on one count of aggravated grand theft over $100,000 and two counts of grand theft of more than $1,000. He faces up to 35 years in prison, plus restitution if convicted on all counts.

Read the story here and here.

Update (5/3/10): Weber plead guilty to one count of grand theft today. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

Update (9/9/10): Weber was sentenced to a net six months in prison.

Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager Arrested For Fraud & Insider Trading

Raj Rajaratnam, 52, the billionaire hedge fund founder and head of New York-based Galleon Group, was arrested Friday and charged with fraud and insider trading in a wide ranging case of conspiracy that netting a reported $20 million in ill-gotten gains. Specifically, Rajaratnam has been charged with four counts of conspiracy and eight counts of securities fraud. The hedge funds named in the case are New Castle, Galleon Technology, and Intel Capital. Others charged criminally in the case include Rajiv Goel, director in strategic investments at Intel Corp.'s investment arm; Anil Kumar, a director at global management-consulting firm McKinsey & Co.; Danielle Chiesi and Mark Kurland of New Castle Partners LLC, the one-time equity hedge-fund group at Bear Stearns Asset Management Inc.; and Robert Moffat, a senior vice president at International Business Machines Corp. The conspirators allegedly traded on insider information in the stocks of at least IBM, Advanced Micro Devices, Sun Microsystems, Google, Polycom and Hilton Hotels.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (5/12/11): Rajaratnam was convicted by a jury on 14 felony fraud and insider trading counts.

Update (10/14/11): Rajaratnam was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in "the largest hedge fund insider trading scheme in history," according to the Department of Justice.

Former Oregon Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty In $500K Embezzlement Case

Sandra Jean Klingman, 56, of Canby, Oregon, has pleaded guilty to embezzling $519,149 from Paul Schatz Furniture in Tigard, Oregon, where she had been employed as a bookkeeper for 12 years. According to prosecutors, Klingman stole the funds over the past two years by forging checks. According to reports, Klingman's thefts were prompted by her gambling addiction. Klingman was sentenced to 4 years in prison, plus restitution, as part of her plea agreement.

Read the story here, here and here.

South Dakota Man Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $300K From School District

Jamie Lee Beisch, 33, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been indicted on charges he embezzled nearly $300.000 from the McLaughlin School District, for which he had been employed as its business manager. According to the indictment, Beisch embezzled the funds between 2007 and 2009. wherein he allegedly wrote himself fraudulent payroll checks totalling $279,019.65.

Read the story here and here.

Former Executive Director At Florida Animal Shelter Accused In $300K Embezzlement Case

Jim North, the former executive director of the Englewood Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS) in Sarasota County has been accused by the organization of embezzling as much as $300,000 from the agency. County investigators were notified last May by agency officials of the potential thefts after it was notified by Sun Trust Bank about "unusual activity" in its account and an internal review was conducted. No charges have been filed at this time and the investigation is ongoing. North left his position at EARS just prior to its report to authorities.

Read the story here.

Developing...

Madoff Victims Sue SEC For Missing Ponzi Scheme

Two victims in the Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities Ponzi scheme case have sued the US Securities & Exchange Commission for failing to spot the fraud. The lawsuit was brought by Phyllis Molchatsky, a single retiree who lost $1.7 million and Steven Schneider, a doctor who lost more than $750,000. The lawsuit, which seeks the return of some $2.4 million, argues that its "sovereign immunity" should be waived if government employees are negligent. Many legal observers say the suit has little chance of succeeding, however.

Read the story here.

Former Delaware Volunteer Fire Company Treasurer Charged With Embezzling More Than $100K

Lisa Marie Butler, 37, of Delaware County, Delaware, has been arrested and charged with misappropriating some $103,000 from the Briarcliffe Fire Company based in Darby Township, for which she had served as Treasurer from 2006 to 2008. Authorities allege that Butler wrote 35 checks to herself and her husband over the two year period. Butler's husband has not been charged in the case at this point.

Read the story here and here.

Former Florida Municipal Administrator Reaches Plea Agreement Short Circuiting $500K Embezzlement Trial

Christopher J. Kovanes, 38, of Plantation, Florida, has reached a plea agreement prior to his trial for embezzling nearly $500,000 from Davie City, where he had served as Town Administrator. Kovanes pleaded guilty to felonly charges of fraud and money laundering and will serve 12 years in prison plus repay the $486,000 he misappropriated. Prosecutors had alleged that Kovanes fraudulently set up phony companies that would purportedly do mapping projects for the town, but which were billed for and never done. He was originally arrested in November 2005 and could have faced up to 180 years in prison if convicted on all counts. He was appointed to the post in April 2005.

Read the story here.

Former Montana Ambulance Company Treasurer Charged With Embezzling $109K

Michelle Lynn Boese, 31, of Deer Lodge, Montana, has been arrested and charged with embezzling more than $109,000 from Powell County Ambulance Service where she had been employed as treasurer. Investigators allege that from September 2008 until September 2009, Boese stole $109,266 from the company.

Read the story here and here.

Update: Ohio Union Treasurer Sentenced In $100K Embezzlement

Michael P. Kelly, 61, of Crestline, Ohio, was sentenced to a year and a day for embezzling nearly $100,000 from the Local 586 of the United Transportation Union while serving as its secretary and treasurer. Kelly had served as a conductor on the Crestline CSX railroad and retired in 2008 after 42 years employment. Prosecutors alleged that Kelly embezzled the union funds from January 2004 through November 2006. He plead guilty in August, admitting that he had used his position with the union to divert $97,971 by issuing checks to himself. He also reportedly attempted to cover up his thefts by forging the union president's signature on the checks.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here.

Missouri Woman Sentenced In $140K Embezzlement Case

Susan K. Warren, 40, of Kirksville, Missouri, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for embezzling some $146,000 from two employers, Leehoff Auto Recycling and Pape Trucking, both based in Knox City. Warren plead guilty to bank fraud charges last July. According to prosecutors, in August 2007, Warren began writing unauthorized checks from both companies to herself or to pay personal vendors, such as utilities and personal debt. Warren must also pay restitution in the amount of $146,491.

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Mississippi Financial Analyst With Embezzling $8.7 Million From Tennessee Company

Walter Thomas Williams III, aka Thom W. Williams, 41, of Hernando, Mississippi, has been charged with wire fraud in connection with his alleged embezzlement of $8,709,792 from Verso Paper Co., based in Memphis, Tennessee, for whom he had been employed as a financial analyst. According to investigators, since March 2009, Williams transferred these funds to his personal checking account. Williams reportedly attempted to disguise the transfers as being made to various company vendors. He faces up to 20 years in prison, plus fines and restitution, if convicted. Williams' wife, Danielle J. Williams has been charged with money laundering in connection with the case. Her trial is scheduled for late June 2010.

Read the story here, here and here.

Pennsylvania Title Clerk Charged In $500K Embezzlement Scheme

Lanette Marie Sansoni, 39, of Warminster, Pennsylvania, was charged with embezzling nearly $500,000 from JRS Settlement Services, a real estate title company based in Huntingdon Valley for whom she had been employed as a clerk for six years. According to authorities, Sansoni embezzled $476,685.84 from 2004 until March 2009, when she was fired and the scheme was revealed. Sansoni allegedly used the stolen funds to pay credit card bills for herself, her mother and daughter and other personal expenses.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (8/12/10): Sansoni was sentenced to 21 years of electronically monitored house arrest and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $750 per month over that period. She pleaded guilty to the embezzlement last January and has already paid some $180,000 in restitution.

Read an update of the story here.

Update (9/19/10): Sansoni's sentenced has now been changed to 9 to 23-months in prison, followed by 24 years of probation, according to the Philadelphia Intelligencer. The change in sentenced was ordered by Montgomery County Judge Joseph A. Smyth. Sansoni, now 40, must also pay the rest of the restitution which is reportedly about $131,000.

Hat tip: reader Erica.

North Carolina Woman Charged In $265K Embezzlement Case

Janet Cavalier, 47, of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, has been arrested and charged with embezzling some $265,000 from the Rocky Mount Area Association of Realtors for whom she had been employed. According to authorities, Cavalier forging and cashing fraudulent checks from the organization. The complaint alleges that from January 1, 2003 through July 2009 Cavalier forged checks under the false endorsement “Janet Ducatte.” She has been charged with three counts of larceny by an employee, 13 counts of forgery and 13 counts of uttering a forged endorsement.

Read the story here.

Update: Texas Woman Gets Probation After Embezzling $200K

Catherine Oliver Tisue, 58, of Cibolo, Texas, was ordered to pay restitution and placed on probation after pleading no contest in August to embezzling $201,481 over a three-year period from F.A. Nunnelly Co., a construction company that employed her as a controller. She also embezzled $13,327 from the San Antonio Gun Club-Women's Skeet League, for which she had served as treasurer.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here.

This seems to me to be a pretty light sentence.

Update: Former Michigan Bookkeeper Sentenced In $468K Embezzlement Case

Susan Kay Barno, 41, aka Susan Fleet, formerly of Michigan, but now of Wyoming, was sentenced to between 5 and 20 years in prison for embezzling some $468,000 from DeWind Wells & Dewatering Inc., a Zeeland, Michigan-based company for which she had been employed as a bookkeeper. The thefts occurred over a two year period, according to prosecutors. A civil suit filed by the company against Barno resulted in a court ordering her to pay $1.5 million. She allegedly concealed a criminal past from her employer, including a prior embezzlement conviction. According to the civil suit, Barno attempted to conceal her theft by removing of destroying computer evidence. She also has a 2003 bankruptcy. Barno used some of the funds to pay for an in-ground pool and a hot tub installed at her home.

Read FraudTalk's original post on this story here.

Read the story here.

Pennsylvania Exec Pleads Guilty In $1.5 Million Embezzlement Case

Jeffrey C. Ramsey, 46, of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty Friday to embezzling more than $1.5 million from JSP International, a plastics manufacturing company for which he had served as a controller. Ramsey was originally charged last May with numerous counts of theft, forgery, access device fraud, unlawful use of a computer, and related crimes, but pleaded guilty to one count of each. Prosecutors alleged that Ramsey stole the funds to support a spa and salon in Philadelphia that he owned outside of JSP. In his position as controller, since 2004, Ramsey reportedly wrote 320 checks to himself and third parties for his own benefit, totalling $1,549,946.82. He co-owned his business, Art+Science Spa and Salon in Manayunk, Pennsylvania, with a former partner, Steven Faleo.

Read the story here and here.

Virginia Couple Sentenced In Church Community Ponzi Scheme

Darrell Underwood, 42, and his wife, Cynthia Underwood, 41, of Chesterfield County, Virginia, were each sentenced for operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded their church community out of some $9.7 million. Darrell was sentenced to 10 years and Cynthia to 3 years, respectively. They had pleaded guilty last June to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The Underwoods operated a "foreclosure rescue" business called Walkwood Properties, based in Midlothian, Virginia. Prosecutors alleged that the couple paid earlier investors with funds taken for later investors, all of whom were promised up to 50 percent returns within 60 - 90 days. They must also pay full restitution.

Read the story here and here.

Another California Ponzi Schemer Is Sentenced

Michael Zelener, 34, of Tarzana, California was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $2.6 million in restitution for defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme. Zelener, who operated companies called British Capital Group and AlaronFX Inc., promised investors up to 120 percent return on currency trading deals he offered. Prosecutors alleged that more than 200 investors were duped. Zelener also went by the names Mikhail Zelener and Michael Marshall.

Read the story here and here.

Update: California Man Sentenced To 8 Years For Ponzi Scheme

Robert D. Bame, 39, of Moreno Valley, California, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for operating a fraudulent investment Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 100 investors out of more than $16 million. Bame, the sole proprietor of Forward Investment Group LLC, a commodities trading firm based in Santa Monica, must also pay $16 million in restitution. Bame pleaded guilty last June to money laundering and wire fraud charges. Bame provided fraudulent account statements to clients regarding the worth of their accounts when in reality he used some of the investment funds for his own purposes.

Read FraudTalk's earlier post on this story here.

Read the story here.

Read the CFTC's original complaint against Bame here.

Massachusetts Woman Accused Of Embezzling $145K From Steamship Authority

Armine Sabatini, 45, of Mashpee, Massachusetts, has been charged with embezzling some $145,000 from the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, for which she had been employed as a bookkeeper. Prosecutors allege that Sabatini's thefts span an 8 year period from 2001 to 2009. She reportedly misappropriated funds that were intended to be returned to customers' credit cards who had pre-paid for tickets that went unused. Instead, Sabatini allegedly credited her own credit cards, including her husband's, Richard Sabatini. He has not yet been charged in the scheme.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (8/25/10): Armine Sabatini, now 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of embezzlement in this case on Monday. She is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17th and faces up to 60 years in prison, plus fines and restitution.

Update (12/20/10): Sabatini was sentenced to 12 months and a day for embezzling $144,975 from the Woods Hole Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority. She was also ordered to pay full restitution.

Michigan "Robin Hood" Banker Sentenced In $340K Embezzlement Case

Patricia J. Keezer, 53, of Manchester, Michigan, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for embezzling some $340,000 from Citizens Bank also in Manchester, for which she had been employed as a bank manager. Prosecutors alleged that the thefts spanned an 8 year period between 2000 and 2008. Keezer claimed she had given the stolen funds to needy bank customers to help them make car repairs, mortgage payments and pay their taxes. Upon sentencing, federal Judge Marianne Battani declared that Keezer's "Robin Hood days are long over."

Read the story here.

Arizona Woman Charged In $1 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Lorena Laverne Fortuna, 31, of Phoenix, Arizona, has been charged with embezzling more than $1 million over an 8 year period from Trimedica International, a Tempe-based natural supplement maker for which she had been employed as a human resources manager. Fortuna is alleged to have manipulated the payroll system to increase her pay adding more than $1 million to her salary. She also allegedly placed her boyfriend on the payroll, paying him $181,210, according to investigators. When confronted, Fortuna reportedly admitted to the thefts, which spanned the years 2000 to 2008.

Read the story here, here and here.

Michigan Man Appointed To Rescue Town's Finances Faces Embezzlement Charges

Arthur "Art" Blackwell, 56, of Highland Park, Michigan, has been charged with embezzling $264,000 from the municipality for which he had been appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to rescue it from insolvency. Blackwell is accused of embezzlement of $100,000 or more, embezzlement by a public official and misconduct in office, among other charges. Prosecutors allege that Blackwell misused his position to misappropriate funds to which he was not entitled and refused to repay them. Blackwell was fired last April when the improprieties were revealed.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (1/27/11): A judge dismissed all embezzlement charges against Blackwell today,  indicating he had the right to write checks to himself. 

Update (7/3/12): An Appeals Court judge has re-instated felony embezzlement charges against Blackwell, siding with prosecutors. 

Arizona Man Sentenced In $800K Embezzlement Scheme

Timothy Benedict, 47, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to six years in prison for embezzling some $817,000 from his in-law's businesses with whom he had been employed. According to prosecutors, over a five year period, Benedict siphoned funds from Canberra Construction Company and E-Z Metal Building Sales, two businesses owned by Cole Quilliam, his father-in-law. Benedict had transferred funds to himself and his own company, Lantum Investments and skimmed cash and deposited funds meant for his employer.

Read the story here.

Former Wisconsin Law Office Manager Sentenced In $161K Embezzlement Case

Lynette L. Hunt, 40, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 30 days in jail, plus restitution for embezzling nearly $161,000 from the Anderl Law Office where she had been employed as office manager. The jail time will be served in 10 day increments over the next three Christmases, according to the sentence. Prosecutors alleged that since at least January 2005 through May 2008, Hunt manipulated the firm's payroll to pay herself extra salary as well as issued checks and misappropriated funds from client trust accounts. The thefts may have gone back as far as 2003, according to reports. Hunt's actions were blamed in part on debts she incurred as a result of her "secret compulsive/impulsive personal spending problem."

Read the story here, here and here.

2 Texas Women Indicted In $400K Embezzlement Conspiracy

Penny Hughes Crocker, 47, and Carol Ann Hamilton, a/k/a Carol Ann Gillentine, 57, both of Jefferson County, Texas, have been indicted on charges they conspired to embezzle some $400,000 from Beaumont, Texas-based Infection Diseases Associates, for whom they were both employed. Crocker, pictured here, had served as the office manager and Hamilton as a registered nurse. Prosecutors allege that starting in March 2005, Crocker and Hamilton set up a phony company with a similar name as one of the company's vendors and submitted fraudulent invoices which were paid by the company.

Read the story here.

Former Ohio Bookkeeper Indicted In $550,000 Embezzlement Scheme

Katherine Stephens, 32, of Hamilton Township, Ohio, has been indicted for allegedly embezzling some $550,000 from Columbus Serum Co. for whom she had been employed as an accounts-receivable clerk. According to prosecutors, Stephens misappropriated the funds through unauthorized use of company credit and debit card accounts for her own benefit over a nearly eight year period from December 2001 to February 2009. She has been charged with felony theft and tampering with records. Arraignment is set in two weeks and she faces up to 13 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Read the story here.

Former Nebraska HS School Secretary Accused In $300+K Embezzlement Case

Brenda L. Sigler, 44, of Covad, Nebraska, has been accused in a civil lawsuit filed by the Cozad School District of embezzling $337,874 from the district for whom she had been employed as a secretary. According to the suit, Sigler began diverting funds to her own accounts in 2004. The stolen funds came from an activities fund for which she had access and bookkeeping responsibilities. The school district is reportedly using the civil suit as insurance for restitution in the case.

Read the story here, here and here.

South Dakota Woman Sentenced In $400K Embezzlement Case

Sherry Markel, 53, of Day County, South Dakota, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for embezzling more than $400,000 from the Farmers Elevator Company of Holmquist, SD, where she had been employed as a bookkeeper and later as a manager. Markel had pleaded guilty to the charges in August. The thefts date back to at least 2001, according to reports.

Read the story here and here.

Iowa Democrat Political Activist Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $6 Million

Phyllis Stevens, 58, of Des Moines, Iowa, has been accused of embezzling more than $5.9 million from Aviva USA, a large insurance company with whom she had been employed as a compensation specialist. According to a lawsuit filed by the company against her, Stevens manipulated the company's computer systems to pay fraudulent agent commissions into an account controlled by her and her spouse. The scheme allegedly spanned four years and involved some 200 fraudulent transactions. Stevens is a well known political activist in Iowa and a large contributor to Democrat political candidates, including Barack Obama. She is also the founder of two Iowa-based political action committees, Rainbow Equality PAC and Queer Education PAC. She was also involved in the formation of the Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa and is listed as the Chairwoman of the organization. She also chairs the Midwest Chapter of Marriage Equality USA. According to reports, Stevens and her same-sex spouse, Marla Stevens, have donated more than $175,000 to candidates since 2006. Marla Stevens reportedly serves as a policy director for LGBT Fairness PAC. Stevens, who was a 35-year employee of Aviva and its predecessor companies, was arrested by the FBI in Las Vegas late last week. The theft is believed to be one of the largest embezzlement cases in state history.

Read the story here, here and here.

Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty To $139K Embezzlement From The Army

Vickie E. Duda, 52, a resident of Illinois, pleaded guilty to embezzling $139,297 from the US Army for whom she had served with in the Army's Human Resources Command. According to federal prosecutors, Duda submitted fake relocation expenses to the Army between July 12, 2004, and February 22, 2007, for which she was reimbursed. Duda faces between 12 and 18 months in prison for the charge of "embezzling government property."

Read the story here.