San Francisco Giants Payroll Manager Charged With Embezzling More Than $1.5 Million

Robin O'Connor, 41, of American Canyon, California, has been charged with embezzling more than $1.5 million from the San Francisco Giants major league baseball team, where she had been employed as its payroll manager.  According to authorities, O'Connor misdirected payroll funds from team accounts into her own accounts over a period of one year, from June 2010 until June 2011.  O'Connor allegedly forged a letter from the Giant's HR department to the Bank of America home loan division from which she was seeking a mortgage, to explain two large deposits into her accounts.  According to the ongoing investigation, a total of $1,513,836.28 was misappropriated by O'Connor.   She has been charged with wire fraud and fraud in connection with a computer.  O'Connor reportedly admitted to the forged letter as well as to misappropriating about $600,000, which has supposedly been returned.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (11/5/11): O'Connor is now believed to have embezzled at least $2.2 million from the San Francisco Giants, according to prosecutors pursuing the case.

Update (11/14/11): O'Connor pleaded guilty today to one count of fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Update (3/25/12): O'Connor has been sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Nevada Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $750K

Terry Straw, 58, of Sparks, Nevada, was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for embezzling nearly $750,000 from Reno-Tahoe Construction Inc. where she had been employed as an office manager.  According to authorities, over a 5 year period, Straw siphoned funds from the company by writing checks to herself and doctoring invoices.  According to media reports, Reno-Tahoe Construction was forced to lay off 60 employees and nearly bankrupted the company.  Straw reportedly has a serious gambling addiction and spent much of the ill-gotten gains at local casinos.

Read the story here.

Former Finance Executive In Texas Found Guilty On 39 Fraud Counts In $75 Million Ponzi Scheme

Kurt Barton, 43, of Austin, Texas, has been found guilty on all 39 financial fraud felony counts filed against him for operating a Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of $75 million.    Barton, the CEO of Triton Financial, raised investor funds ostensibly for real estate and businesses, as well as to make short-term loans to business owners.  Only about $20 million of the $75 million raised went for toward legitimate investments, the rest supported his lifestyle and paid for prior investors' purported returns.  Barton was convicted on one count each of conspiracy, securities fraud, 15 counts of wire fraud, five counts of false statement related to a loan and 17 counts of money laundering.

Read the story here.

Massachusetts Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $175K From Bank

Kathleen Didonato, aka Kathleen O'Connell, 49, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, has been charged with embezzling more than $175,000 from the North Easton Savings Bank where she had been employed as an assistant bank manager.  According to authorities, Didonato's scheme began in October 2010 and continued through January 2011 wherein she withdrew funds in the form of cash or bank checks from customer accounts without authorization for her own benefit.  She has been charged with three felony counts including one each of Theft by Bank Officer or Employee, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: Reader Joe.

Update: California Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $1.1 Million From Food Concern

Lisa K. Sackie, 47, of Solvang, California, pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled some $1.1 million from Santa Barbara Bay Foods where she had been employed as vice president and controller.  According to authorities, over a period of nearly 6 years, from 2004 to 2010, Sackie issued checks to herself and her creditors for her own benefit.  According to reports, some of the monies Sackie misappropriated were directed to Sundancer Productions and a "close companion", both affiliated with the video production company based in Clinton, New Jersey.  This entity appears to be owned by a Jimmy Whip, according to his LinkedIn page.  Sackie faces up to 40 years in prison on the mail fraud charges she plead to.

Read the story here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Oregon Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $500K

Faye Louise Clemens, 65, of Beaverton, Oregon, has been sentenced to 52 months in prison for embezzling nearly $500,000 from Marine Lumber Co. where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, Clemens wrote checks to herself for cash, pocketing the money over a period of three years.  Clemens has blamed her actions on an apparent gambling addiction.

Read the story here.

Update On Fry's Electronics Embezzlement Case: Siddiqui Files For Bankruptcy

Ausaf Umar Siddiqui, aka "Omar Siddiqui," 44, of Palo Alto, California and the former vice president of merchandising and operations for Fry's Electronics, Inc., has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy listing $137 million in debt, most of it to various casinos.  Siddiqui was originally criminally charged in a case initiated by the IRS, with five counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering for embezzling funds and receiving kickbacks by allegedly created a phony company, PC International LLC to receive vendor payments from Fry's.  The IRS ultimately indicted Siddiqui on 9 felony counts alleging a $6 million fraud.

Read the story here.

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

Update (9/13/11): Siddiqui has now pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering for embezzling money through a massive kickback scheme.

Connecticut Woman Charged With Embezzling Nearly $300K From Church

Kelly Saucier, 45, of Southington, Connecticut, has been charged with embezzling nearly $300,000 from the Plantsville Congregational Church where she had served as treasurer.  According to authorities, over a period of more than five years, from 2005 to December 2010, Saucier made over 100 unauthorized transactions siphoning church funds into her own accounts.  Authorities report that a total of $293,385.15 was allegedly stolen by Saucier.

Read the story here.

Retired Police Sergeant In California Charged With Embezzling $102K

Ray Wood, 53, of Hollister, California, has been charged with embezzling some $102,000 from the union that represented the Hollister Police Department where he had served most recently as a sergeant.  Authorities accuse Wood, who was president of the union, of siphoning off funds from the department over a period of nearly 7 years, beginning in March 2004 until December 2010.  Wood allegedly wrote checks to himself and took union dues proceeds for his own benefit.

Read the story here.

Former Bank Executive In Kentucky Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $2.2 Million

Donna J. Wood, 50, of Falmouth, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled more than $2.2 million from United Kentucky Bank where she had served as president.  According to authorities, Wood made unauthorized bank transfers of funds to accounts she controlled over a period of nearly 8 years, from March 2003 through the end of January 2011.  The total amount reportedly misappropriated was $2,244,506.44.  She has also signed a consent decree which disallows her from ever working in banking industry again.

Read the story here and here.

Update (12/12/11): Wood, now 51, has been sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison.

Kentucky Woman Accused Of Embezzling $450K From University

Alisha Ward, 42, of Louisville, Kentucky has been accused of embezzling more than $450,000 from the University of Louisville where she had been employed as the director of the Equine Industry Program.  According to reports, Ward wrote checks to herself and made fraudulent charges on her boss's credit card to pay for personal items, including a motorcycle and lingerie.  The university has fired her upon revelation of the allegations.

Read the story here.

Update (7/10/12): Ward, who pleaded guilty last April to embezzling $463,636 from the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program, was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay $461,889 in restitution. 

Former Treasurer Of Washington State-Based Charity Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling $112K

Randall Morrison, 49, formerly of Kirkland, Washington and currently of Talahassee, Florida, has been indicted on charges he embezzled more than $112,000 from the Ronald McDonald House Holiday Cruise where he had served as treasurer.  According to prosecutors, overa a period of about 3 years, from 2006 until 2009, Morrison wrote checks and wired funds to what appears to be a legitimate charity but which was under his control and for his own benefit.  Morrison reportedly moved to Ohio but kept handling the charity's financial affairs by e-mail.  The thefts were discovered after his Ohio employer reportedly discovered him embezzling funds and was terminated by them and who then reported suspicious activity to the charity.

Read the story here.

California Charter School Finance Director Accused Of Embezzling $400K

Sheila Accornero, 42, of Cloverdale, California, has been charged with embezzling nearly $400,000 from the Kid Street Learning Center Charter School in Santa Rosa where she had been employed as finance manager.  According to authorities, Accornero forged the signature of the charter school's executive director on numerous checks written out to herself over a period of at least three years. 

Read the story here and here.

Update (8/22/11): Accornero has pleaded not guilty.  She is reported to have used the funds in part to pay for a prescription drug habit.

Update (3/1/12): Accornero, now 43, was sentenced to 56 months in prison and ordered to pay $398,574 in restitution.  She plead gulity in January 2012 to felony grand theft, forgery and possession of narcotics.

Texas Woman Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling $237K From Local Non-Profit

Debra Brown, 51, of San Angelo, Texas, has been indicted on charges she embezzled more than $237,000 from the Children's Advocacy Center of Tom Green County, a local non-profit organization for which she had served as its longtime executive director.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 6 years, from January 2005 until December 31, 2010, Brown issued checks to herself or otherwise deposited non-profit funds into her own accounts.  Brown is reportedly the wife of Tom Green County Judge Mike Brown.  She had been executive director of the non-profit for 16 years. 

Read the story here, here and here.

Former Fire Chief In West Virginia Guilty Of Embezzling $160K

James “Jimmy” Carver, of Bramwell, West Virginia, has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $160,000 from the Bramwell Volunteer Fire Department for which he had served as chief for 30 years.  According to authorities, Carver made at least $164,736.64 in unauthorized expenditures from the Bramwell Fire Department’s First Community Bank account for his own benefit over a period of at least 6 years.  He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution.

Read the story here and here.

Missouri Man Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling $133K From 2 Local Charities

Sean Patrick Taylor, aka J.R. Wayne Gourley, 52, formerly of Kansas City, Missouri, has been indicted on charges he embezzled a total of $133,161 from the two local non-profits, the Epilepsy Foundation of Kansas and Western Missouri and Westport Cooperative Services, both of which he had served in executive operating positions. According to authorities, Taylor skimmed funds from the Epilepsy Foundation for three years from early 2007 until April 2009 when he was forced to resign upon being confronted about the misappropriations.  Taylor then obtained a job running day to day operations for Westport Cooperative Services which lasted until May 2010 when he was fired for alleged misappropriations from that non-profit.  The thefts involved unauthorized funds transfers and the misappropriation of donations to the non-profits.  Taylor has been indicted on 82 felony fraud counts including wire fraud, bank fraud and identity theft.  Some of the thefts involved unauthorized ATM withdrawals at local casinos and gambling establishments.

Read the story here and here.

California Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $1.1 Million From Gourmet Food Concern

Lisa K. Sackie, 47, of Solvang, California, pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled about $1.1 million from Santa Barbara Bay Foods, where she had been employed as vice president and controller.  According to prosecutors, Sackie directed checks payable to entities doing legitimate business with Santa Barbara Bay Foods to herself instead for her personal benefit.  The thefts are believed to have spanned as much as six years, from 2004 until 2010. 

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Update (2/13/12): Sackie was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.1 million in restitution to Future Food Brands, the parent company of Santa Barbara Bay Foods. 

California Woman Charged With Embezzling As Much As $700K From Police Department

Karen Flores

Karen Flores, believed to be in her mid-40s, of Santa Ynez, California has been accused of embezzling at least $100,000 from the Santa Barbara Police Department where she had served as its longtime business office supervisor.  According to authorities, Flores could have stolen as much as $700,000, although the final tally has yet to be determined.  The thefts allegedly spanned at least a 5 1/2 year period from January 1, 2006 to August 4, 2011, according to prosecutors.  Flores allegedly skimmed receipts from parking violations and street sweeping citations.  Flores is reportedly a 22 year veteran of the Department and held the business office supervisor position for the past 15 years.

Read the story here and here.

Read an update on the story (4/24/12) here.

Update (6/4/13): Flores pleaded guilty to embezzlement and tax evasion charges in connection with her embezzlement of $609,000.

Former Exec Of NYC Non-Profit Accused Of Embezzling More Than $2.3 Million

Jeffrey Bernstein, 61, has been accused in civil proceedings of embezzling more than $2.3 million from the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City where he had served as director of administration.  Until his resignation earlier this week, Bernstein was also the chairman of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and is the chairman of Archstone Group.  The civil case, brought by the Institute against JP Morgan Chase, alleges that the bank allowed Bernstein to make at least 65 funds transfers to accounts he controlled for his own personal benefit.  The alleged misappropriations began at least a year ago in April 2010, when he became director of administration and continued until February 2011.  However, Bernstein previously served as president of its board of trustees for 3 1/2 years prior to taking the administrative position. 

Read the story here, here and here.

Illinois Woman Charged With Embezzling $200K From Union

Grace Rathke, 55, of Loves Park, Illinois, has been indicted on charges she embezzled some $200,000 from Local 32 of the Laborers International Union of North America where she had been employed as an office manager.  According to prosecutors, over a period of about 4 1/2 years, from November 2004 until March 2009, Rathke misappropriated union dues and fees paid by members, converting them to her own use.

Read the story here and here.

Michigan Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $462K From Financial Institution

Tracy McInchak, 39, of Dearborn, Michigan, pleaded guilty last week to charges she embezzled $462,000 from W-Y Campbell, a subsidiary of Comerica, where she had been employed as an office manager.   According to authorities, over a period of about 5 1/2 years,  from August 2004 through March 2010, McInchak wrote numerous checks from company coffers to herself and her personal credit card accounts.   Specifically, McInchak pleaded guilty to embezzlement and making a false statement on a federal tax return. 

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Update (3/2/12): McInchak, now 40, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by 3 years probation.  She was also ordered to pay $440,614 to Comerica in restitution and $62,706 to the Internal Revenue Service for back taxes on the ill-gotten gains.