Woman Charged With Embezzling $1 Million From Archdiocese of New York

Anita Collins, 67, of the Bronx, New York, has been charged with embezzling more than $1 million from the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, where she had been employed as an accounts payable bookkeeper within its Department of Education Finance Office.  According to authorities, over a 7 year period, Collins issued phony invoices and wrote at least 468 unauthorized checks from the Archdiocese's educational fund to "KB Collins" (initials for her son), ultimately for her own benefit.  According to the prosecutor, Collins spent the stolen money on “a lifestyle that was not extravagant but was far beyond her lawful means."  At least some of the stolen money was used to purchase expensive dolls adn other items.  Reportedly, Collins previously pleaded guilty to criminal charges in fraud schemes at other New York employers in 1986 and 1999.  She has reportedly confessed to the thefts.

Read the story here and here.

Update (3/1/12): Collins has plead not guilty to the charges.

Update (8/17/12): Collins has reached a plea agreement to plea guilty and face a sentence of 4 years in prison.