New York Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $311K From Girl Scouts

Yaasmin K. Hooey, 35, of the Bronx, New York, has been sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison for embezzling $311,586 from the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York where she had been employed as finance director.  According to authorities, over a period of two years, Hooey misappropriated the funds by cashing or depositing into her personal bank account at least 65 checks written and forged from the Girl Scouts' payroll account.  Prosecutors said that Hooey spent some of the ill-gotten gains on a $13,000 diamond ring, a cosmetic laser procedure, gym memberships, clothing, concert tickets and personal travel.  Hooey, who plead guilty to grand larceny, claims she gave most of the money to her girlfriend.  At her sentencing hearing, Hooey is quoted in a statement saying, “I apologize for the situation."

Read the story here, here and here.

Ohio Woman Charged With Embezzling As Much As $170K From Trade Union

Laura L. Dixon, 50, of Toledo, Ohio, has been charged with embezzling between $70,000 and $170,216 from the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters where she had been employed as an office secretary.  According to authorities, over a period of more than 5 years, from January 2005 to about March 2010, Dixon converted union membership dues for her own benefit.  Dixon has been charged with one count of labor union embezzlement. 

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Long Island Man Charged With Embezzling $243K From Healthcare Concern

Jeffrey Mohamed, 36, of Medford, New York has been charged with embezzling more than $243,000 from Hospice Care Network, where he had been employed as chief of information technology.  According to authorities, over a period of more than 8 years, from January 2003 to March 2011, Mohamed made unauthorized purchases of computers and other electronic equipment and then returned the items for a credit to his personal account or by selling the equipment and keeping the proceeds.  Mohamed faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Read the story here, here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Montana Woman Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $100K From Little League

Amy Jo Erickson, 39, of Belgrade, Montana, has been charged with embezzling at least $92,085.48 from the Belgrade Little League Baseball Organization where she had served as treasurer.  According to authorities, over a period of more than 3 years, from January 2007 through February 2010, Erickson is alleged to have written league checks to her husband's plumbing business, Erickson Plumbing & Heating LLC, as well as to herself.  She is also alleged to have stolen cash receipts.  Police investigators reportedly interviewed Erickson's husband, believed to be Monty L. Erickson, 39, who claimed he "had no idea" of the embezzlement.  Erickson has plead not guilty to the charges.

Read the story here and here.

Former Wyoming Hospital Exec Accused Of Embezzling Nearly $850K

Paul Cardwell, currently believed to be living in Thailand, has been accused in a civil lawsuit of embezzling about $848,000 from Powell Valley Healthcare, of Powell, Wyoming, where he had been employed as CEO through its management company, HealthTech Management Services Inc.  According to the lawsuit, over a six month period last year, Cardwell authorized the funds to pay for recruitment of physicians to the hospital.  Instead, the monies were actually sent to a “straw company” set up by an Indiana-based acquaintance of Cardwell’s that did no legitimate work and kicked back a “substantial” amount to Cardwell via electronic transfers.

Developing...

Read the story here.

Update (9/6/12): Cardwell has vanished, just 3 weeks prior to the start of his trial and authorities have issued an arrest warrant for him.

Update (5/4/13): Michael J. Plake, 47, of West Lafayette, Indiana, is scheduled to be sentenced after pleading guilty to his role in the theft of what is now understood to be $1.65 million from Powell Valley Healthcare.  According to prosecutors, Cardwell arranged payments to Plake’s medical recuitment company, Plake and Associates, which was never conducted.  Plake allegedly kicked back a percentage of the fees to Cardwell via overseas wire transfers.  Cardwell and Plake also allegedly created phony recruitment agreements and invoices to cover up their thefts.

Michigan Man Accused Of Embezzling $134K From Church & School

James M. "Jim" Kulfan, 54, of Grandville, Michigan, has been charged with embezzling $134,545 from the St. John Vianney School and Parish where he had served as business manager.  According to authorities, Kulfan wrote checks to himself and took cash receipts over an unspecified period of time.  Kulfan had apparently been employed by the church for nearly 9 years before being fired in December 2011 when the misappropriation was discovered.

Developing...

Read the story here, here and here.

Former Oklahoma Bank Exec Pleads Guilty To Embezzling More Than $3 Million

Janice Mora Adams, 54, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled more than $3 million from People's Bank where she had been employed as senior vice president for private banking and internal control officer.  According to authorities, Adams created fraudulent loans and kept the proceeds for her own benefit over a period of nearly 6 years, from May 2004 until February 2010.  During that period, Adams reportedly misappropriated about $3.1 million from the bank.  Adams has agreed to a restitution judgment of $2.7 million and must pay about $860,000 in back taxes on the ill-gotten gains.  According to media reports, the scheme was uncovered in March 2010 and charged in December 2011.

Read the story here and here.

Update (8/1/12): Adams, now 55, has been sentenced to 45 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution to the bank’s insurer as well as $859,474 to the Internal Revenue Service for tax years 2005 through 2009.  She was also ordered to pay a criminal money judgment of more than $2.6 million.

Former CFO Of Idaho Company Charged With Embezzling More Than $550K

Stanley William Mills, 51, of Idaho Falls, ID has been charged with embezzling at least $550,000 from Environmental Management Inc. where he had been employed as chief financial officer.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 6 years, from 2002 to 2008, Mills siphoned money from the company.  He has been charged with one count of felony grand theft.

Developing...

Read the story here and here.

Update (4/5/12): Mills has pleaded guilty to grand theft by embezzlement.  Authorities alleged that Mills wrote company checks which he deposited into his own accounts or otherwise for his own benefit.

Former California Film Production Company Exec Charged With Embezzling $812K

Donna Glenn Walker, 57, formerly of Oxnard, California has been charged with embezzling some $812,000 from Danetracks, Inc., a post-production sound company in West Hollywood, where she had been employed as a vice president.  According to authorities, Walker fled to Winter Park, Florida after she was served with a search warrant.  She has been charged with 5 counts of grand theft. 

Developing...

Read the story here and here.

Update (8/15/12): Walker pled guilty on August 8, 2012 to grand theft and failure to pay state taxes on her ill-gotten gains.  The case reportedly took several years to investigate and bring to court.  Danetracks reported the thefts to the authorities in February 2008. 

Reminder to victims of these kinds of frauds: the wheels of justice roll slowly but eventually come around.

Pennsylvania Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $130K

Denise Zbierski, 35, of the Hudson section of Plains Township, Pennsylvania, has been charged with embezzling $130,866 from MotorWorld Automotive where she had been employed as payroll administrator.  According to authorities, over a period of at least one year, between 2010 and 2011, Zbierski inflated her salary by doctoring the books and records of the company.  She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.  Zbierski reportedly admitted to stealing the money to finance a gambling habit.

Read the story here and here.

Michigan Man Accused Of Embezzling $650K From Oldest African American Church

Reuben Bynum, 61, of West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, has been charged with embezzling about $650,000 from the Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, reputed to be the oldest African-American church in the US, where he had served as chief financial officer.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 6 years, until December 2011, Bynum forged checks and abused company credit and ATM cards for his own benefit. 

Read the story here and here.

Another Vermont Woman Arrested For Major Embezzlement

Kimberly Brooks, 47, of Brownington, Vermont has been arrested on charges she allegedly embezzled nearly $151,000 from Desmarais Equipment where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, over a period of 3 years, from April 2008 through March 2011, Brooks siphoned funds from the company where she had been employed for 13 years. 

Developing...

Read the story here and here.

Vermont will keep its infamous status as the highest risk embezzlement state if it keeps up this pace...

West Virginia Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $115K From Energy Exploration Company

Yvetta Holstine, 56, of South Charleston, West Virginia, was sentenced to 6 months in prison for embezzling at least $115,000 from Hard Rock Exploration Inc., a local natural gas exploration company where she had been employed as an accounts manager.  According to authorities, over a period of at least a year, beginning in July 2008 and continuing through July 2009, Holstine used her position to make personal purchased over the Internet with company credit card accounts, among other schemes.  Holstine must also pay restitution in the amount of $115,276 and serve 3 years probation.

Read the story here.

Missouri Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $170K From Hotel

Janet R. Mosier, 47, of Springfield, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled nearly $170,000 from the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center where she had been employed as director of accounting services.  According to authorities, over a period of nearly 8 years, from January 2003 to October 2010, Mosier stole from the hotel's petty cash account using fraudulent receipts to the tune of  $169,864.  Mosier plead guilty to felony wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison, plus restitution and fines.

Read the story here and here.

Missouri Condo Manager Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $751K From Condo Associations

Dale Palmer, 53, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to charges he embezzled $751,302 from the accounts of 32 homeowner associations for which his firm, Home Owner Association Services, had been entrusted to manage.  According to authorities, Palmer simply transferred funds from the association accounts to his own business account which he claims he did because of cash flow problems.  His firm managed associations in Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Illinois.  Palmer, who pleaded guilty to mail fraud, tried to hide the misappropriations by sending out fraudulent statements to association members.

Read the story here and here.

Former Head Of NYC Stage Union Charged With Embezzling More Than $200K

John V. McNamee, 52, of New York City, has been charged with embezzling more than $200,000 from the Stage and Picture Operators Local 829 for which he had previously served as president/secretary/treasurer.  According to prosecutors, over a period of more than 7 years, from January 2004 through February 2011, McNamee used union credit cards to pay for personal expenses.  Prosecutors allege that the "charges included jewelry purchases, tutoring and school-related expenses for his children, and medical, vacation, and party expenses for himself and his family."

Read the story here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Former Executive Director Of California-Based Charity Accused Of Embezzling More Than $133K

Officials of Carol's Kitchen, a Calimesa, California-based charity has accused its former executive director, Jim McConnell, of embezzling $133,700 from the non-profit.  McConnell has not been charged criminally.  However, Carol's Kitchen issued a press release accusing McConnell of "embezzling and misappropriating funds, stealing corporate assets and mismanagement" based upon a forensic accounting review of the books and records.  The alleged misappropriations may have spanned as long as 5 years, beginning in January 2006 when McConnell was hired and continuing through 2011 when he was fired for alleged financial improprieties.

Read the story here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Former Bookkeeper Of Minnesota VFW Accused Of Embezzling More Than $200K

Becky Lynn Heald, 59, of Maple Grove, Minnesota, has been accused of embezzling more than $200,000 from the Golden Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars post where she had served as bookkeeper for 25 years.  According to reports, Heald wrote and forged at least 141 fraudulent checks for her own benefit as well as stole cash from the Post's safe over a period of more than 5 years, beginning in May 2006 and continuing through June 2011.  She then allegedly maintained an "elaborate" second set of books to cover the thefts from the Post's members.  Heald has been charged with theft by swindle.

Read the story here and here.

Missouri Manufacturing Company Alleges Office Manager Embezzled $2.7 Million

Kansas City Screw Products Inc., of Kansas City, Missouri, has filed a civil action alleging that its longtime office manager, Laura J. DeJong, 53, of Liberty, Missouri, embezzled nearly $2.7 million from the company.  The lawsuit also names DeJong's husband, Craig M. DeJong, 54, also of Liberty, MO, as a defendant.  The complaint alleged that DeJong had engaged in a fraudulent check writing and check kiting scheme to defraud the company of a total of $2,679,227.16.  The scheme allegedly began as far back as 2003 and continued through October 2010.  Media reports indicate that DeJong has been interviewed by the FBI, but no criminal charges have yet been filed.  Company corporate counsel described Dejong as “a trusted employee. She was darn near a member of the family,” according to media reports.

Read the story here and here.

Maryland Woman Charged With Embezzling $137K From Homeowners Association

Nancy B. Walker, 62, of Boonesboro, Maryland, has been charged with embezzling at least $137,000 from the Ballenger Creek Meadows Home Owner’s Association where she had served as property manager.  According to authorities, over a period of several months beginning in November 2011 and continuing through January of 2012, Walker, through her manaagement company, Association Management Services, Ltd. made numerous unauthorized withdrawls of funds from the association's accounts.  Walker was allegedly the victim of an Internet dating scam and reportedly send some of the funds to a man in South Africa.  Walker had reportedly served as the association's property manager for 15 years.

Read the story here and here.

Former California Municipal School Official Charged With Embezzling More Than $700K

William Douglas Agopian, 60, of Santa Ana, California, has been charged with embezzling more than $700,000 from the Lynwood Unified School District where he had served as chief business officer.  According to authorities, over a 4 year period, Agopian used school district funds to pay for personal expenses, his taxes and luxuries, including tickets to professional baseball games.  Agopian has been
charged with 21 felony counts including misappropriation of public funds, embezzlement by a public or private officer and filing a false tax return.  Prosecutors allege that Agopian siphoned the funds from an off-the-books account originally intended to pay for a trip to a Mexican sister city.

Read the story here and here.

Former Treasurer Of Maryland Ambulance Company Charged With Embezzling More Than $100K

Carl Thomas Boltz, 52, of Westminster, Maryland, has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000 from the Walkersville Volunteer Rescue Co. for which he had served as treasurer.  According to reports, Boltz misappropriated company funds over a period of at least 7 1/2 years, beginning in January 2004 and continuing through August 2011.  Boltz allegedly used the funds to make personal purchases as well as improvements on his home.  Boltz has held fiduciary positions with the company for more than 20 years.  Media outlets have reported that Boltz admitted to the thefts in a letter to the ambulance company. 

Read the story here and here.

Former Pastor Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $254K From Church

Charles Edward Ledford, 54, of Simpsonville, South Carolina has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for embezzling $253,827.46 from Elmwood Avenue Church of God where he had served as pastor.  According to authorities, over a period of about 10 years, from 2001 through November 2010, Ledford opened a second secret bank account at the church's bank and deposited church funds which he used for his own benefit.  Ledford pleaded guilty last October to breach of trust, forgery and bank fraud.

Read the story here, here and here.

Former Office Manager Of Religious School Charged With Embezzling $103K

Paul Anthony D’Arcy, 47, of Onsted, Michigan has been charged with embezzling more than $103,000 from the Adrian Dominican Montessori Teacher Education Institute where he had served as office manager.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 3 years, beginning at least as far back as January 1, 2009, D'Arcy misappropriated funds from the religious institute, which is affiliated with the Adrian Dominican Sisters.   D'Arcy is accused of siphoning small amounts of money on a regular basis through the institute's credit card and online PayPal accounts. 

Read the story here.

Pennsylvania Man Under Suspicion For Embezzling As Much As $5 Million From Mining Concern

Larry Dean Winckler, 51, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling at least $1 million and as much as $5 million from Falcon Drilling, where he had been employed as fleet manager.  According to authorities, Winckler directed company controller Cheryl Brooks, to write checks to fake companies or to himself or his benefit.  Brooks is reportedly cooperating with authorities and has not been charged in the case at this time.  The scheme reportedly spanned at least a 2 year period from 2005 through 2007 where he was ultimately siphoning about $150,000 per month.

Read the story here, here, here and here.

Arrests Expected Of 2 For Alleged Embezzlement From Missouri Resort

State authorities are concluding an investigation that is expected to result in the arrest of two individuals for allegedly embezzling at least $100,000 from member-owned Cloud 9 Ranch in Caulfield, Missouri.  Authorities believe the former employees were transferring ownership deeds to members of their own families, unbeknownst to the family members, and eventually selling the memberships and pocketing the money.   The investigation commenced in April 2010 when resort board members believed it was being defrauded. 

Developing...

Read the story here.

ACFE Presentation: Understanding the Characteristics of Employee Theft & Identifying the Warning Signs

Chris Marquet, CEO of Marquet International, Ltd., will be presenting at a training seminar sponsored by the Maine chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners on the topic, "Understanding the Characteristics of Employee Theft & Identifying the Warning Signs" on March 23, 2012 in Portland, Maine.  If you are based in New England and would like to attend, please RSVP directly as seating is limited.  Chris will present his unique research findings on the phenomenon of embezzlement, including statistics and case studies to help better understand the characteristics of embezzlers and their schemes.  He will discuss identifying the warning signs and detection methods as well as presenting prevention techniques.  Finally, Chris will discuss appropriate investigative responses in these cases. 

See the announcement here.

Idaho Is Fertile Ground For Embezzlers

The Idaho Statesman published an article today entitled, "Idaho is fertile ground for embezzlers," which features statistics from the 2011 Marquet Report On Embezzlement as well as quotes from Chris Marquet, principal of Marquet International, Ltd.  The article commences with "A national study of employee thefts of $100,000 or more from businesses shows that Idaho ranks No. 7 in the country for risk — possibly because of the trusting nature of its many small family businesses."

Read the whole article here.

Wisconsin Woman Accused Of Embezzling At Least $182K From Credit Union

Sarah Gora, 33, of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin has been charged with embezzling at least $182,000 from the Midwest Credit Union of Sheboygan where she had served as president.  According to authorities, an internal audit was conducted after employees reported that Gora was bragging about making numerous personal purchases, including a $200,000 home.  Investigators found transfers of funds in November 2010 and again in December 2010, totalling $182,000.  Gora faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Read the story here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Michigan Grocery Manager Headed To Trial For Allegedly Embezzling More Than $200K

Ted Gould, believed to be in his early to mid-50s, of Portage, Michigan will be heading to trial for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 from the Lakeshore Fresh Market where he had been employed as manager.  Over a 14 month period, Gould allegedly siphoned cash receipts from the grocery store to help support a gambling problem.  Meanwhile, the grocery store proceeded to bounce checks to vendors and otherwise fail to meet its financial obligations, causing severe problems.  According to media reports, Gould was previously accused of embezzling at least $50,000 from the Hardings market in Plainwell, Michigan in the mid to late 1990s. 

Read the story here and here.

California Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $150K From DSS For Breaking Probation By Embezzling Again

Sara Juarez, 39, of Salinas, California, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison for embezzling more than $148,000 from the state Department of Social Services  where she had been employed as an "eligibility worker."  According to authorities, over a period of more than a year, from June 2004 to September 2005, Juarez misappropriated the funds using state Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards.  She reportedly admitted to the thefts in April 2006 and was sentenced to the 9 years and four month term, which was suspended pending a 10 year probation period.  However, beginning in 2008, Juarez was hired as office manager for Structural Steel Co. in Watsonville, using the name "Sara Yniguez," where she proceeded to embezzle more than $45,000 over a period of nearly 2 years, from  February 2009 to January 2011. 

Read the story here and here.

North Carolina Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $100K In Insurance Premiums

Rhonda Lee Drewery, 43, of Wilmington, North Carolina, has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000 in insurance premiums paid by at least 665 clients of Carolina Dealer Develop Group, a business she owned that contracted with Capital Ford Dealerships Inc. and Nation Motor Club/Nation Safe Drivers to sell and manage "guaranteed auto protection" coverage programs.  The scheme reportedly spanned more than a year, from January 2010 to March 2011, according to the NC Department of Insurance.

Read the story here.

Read the North Carolina DOI announcement here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Connecticut Woman Charged With Embezzling $482K From Red Cross

Diane Williams, 53, of East Hartford, Connecticut was charged with embezzling more than $482,000 from the local American Red Cross chapter where she had served as the group's finance director.  According to authorities, over a period of at least four years, beginning in 2006 until July 2010, Williams used her position to pay herself extra salary.  Police investigators claim Williams admitted to taking the money to help pay for her daughter's college costs.  Nevertheless, she has pleaded not guilty to the charges.  According to the Hartford Courant: "Williams told police her bookkeeping was not reviewed and that she was able to get away with more than doubling her salary in 2007, 2008 and 2009, the year the chapter's directors agreed to cut their salaries to balance their chapter's budget.  Williams said her financial difficulties began in 2005 when she realized she could not afford to pay for her daughter's college costs."

Read the story here, here and here.

Note: this isn't the first time the Red Cross has been hit with a major embezzlement recently.  In February 2011, Deborah A. Leggio, former finance director for the Suffolk County chapter of the American Red Cross, was charged with embezzling nearly $275,000.  That case is pending.  See FraudTalk's posting on the story here.

Washington State Police Officer Charged With Embezzling $151K From Fallen Officer's Fund

Skeeter Timothy Manos, 34, of DuPont, Washington, has been charged with embezzling $151,000 from the nonprofit Lakewood Police Independent Guild, a fund to benefit the families of 4 Lakewood Police officers who were killed in November 2009.  According to authorities, Manos set up a secret bank account into which donations were deposited and then used to pay for his personal expenses, including airlines tickets to Las Vegas, and for cash withdrawals at various casinos.  At least $120,000 of the misappropriated funds were spent in this manner.  Manos' scheme spanned an undisclosed period of time.  Manos has reportedly had a history of financial problems.

Read the story here and here.

Update (7/1/12): Manos was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $159,000. 

New Jersey Woman Charged With Embezzling $1.8 Million From NY Bank Executive's Accounts

Karen R. Febles, 47, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, has been charged with embezzling more than $1.8 million from the accounts of an unnamed retired financial executive for whom she had been employed as an executive assistant.  According to authorities, Febles "routinely prepared checks by hand, filling in the amounts and the payee, and presented them to be signed by the victim," according to the criminal complaint.  Febles allegedly wrote checks that “grossly exceeded the amounts the victim authorized to be withdrawn from his bank accounts” at JPMorgan Chase & Co.  The misappropriations reportedly spanned more than 4 years, beginning in 2007 and continuing until Febles was fired in November 2011.  She has been charged with bank fraud and money laundering.  Febles reportedly spent much of the ill-gotten gains on luxury items, including luxury autos and vacation cruises.  She had been employed for 11 years at the bank working for the victim.

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Tennessee Man Sentenced For Embezzling $1.2 Million From Contractor

Rickey L. Bright, 55, of Knoxville, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison for embezzling nearly $1.2 million from Shoffner Mechanical, Industrial & Service Co. Inc., an HVAC contractor, where he had been employed as a project manager.  According to authorities, beginning in April 2005, Bright conspired with an unidentified commercial products supply company to defraud the company in a classic vendor-kickback scheme.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Atchley Jr. is reported to have said, "Bright submitted false purchase orders to the supply company owner for supplies that were not required to complete projects that he managed. The supply company owner would submit false invoices, which Bright approved and submitted for repayment."  The supply company owner, who has not yet been criminally charged on the federal level, has been identified as Robert L. Greeley Jr.  Bright reportedly spent some of the ill-gotten gains to support his lifestyle.

Read the story here and here.

Washington State Man Accused Of Embezzling More Than $1 Million From County

Dennis M. Huston, 65, of Pasco, Washington, has been accused of embezzling more than $1 million from Franklin County where he serves as director of accounting and administration.  According to authorities, Huston's embezzlement scheme spanned at least 10 years.  He has been charged with first-degree theft, money laundering and possessing cocaine and has been placed on administrative leave.  Interestingly, Huston has a criminal past and spent four years in prison for employing a similar scheme in the mid-1980s at the Bureau of Reclamation in Billings Montana.  In this case, like the Montana case, Huston reportedly created a dummy company through which fraudulent billings could be run. He reportedly stole $141,000 in the Montana case.

Developing...

Read the story here, here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Update (2/9/12): Huston has reportedly been fired from his position as director of accounting and administration for Franklin County.

Update (2/29/12): Huston was reportedly investigated by the FBI in 2009 based upon an anonymous letter accusing him of fraud.  The investigation apparently did not result in any prosecution.  Read the story here.

Update (3/22/12): Franklin County is seeking more than $2.8 million in restitution from Huston which is what it now claims was embezzled by the former county manager.  Huston allegedly used a vendor scheme to submit fraudulent invoices to be paid by the county.

Wisconsin Woman Charged With Embezzling More Than $250K From Local College

Kristin A. Seimits, 44, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been charged with embezzling more than $250,000 from the Milwaukee Area Technical College where she had been employed as procurement manager.  According to authorities, over a 7 year period, Seimits made unauthorized purchases with college credit card accounts for her own benefit.  She is alleged to have used the credit card to purchase numerous personal items and take personal trips.  The misappropriations allegedly occurred between 2005 and August 2011.  Seimits reportedly has been employed by MATC since 2003. 

Read the story here and here.

Watch a video clip of the story here.

Update (6/26/12): Seimits was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered her to pay more than $377,000 in restitution.

Arkansas Man Sentenced For Embezzling $200K From Louisiana Pharmacy

Michael A. Wallace, 44, of Crossett, Arkansas, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for embezzling more than $200,000 from Hardin's Compounding Pharmacy in West Monroe, Louisiana where he had been employed as a pharmacy tech.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 3 years, from 2007 to 2010, Wallace wrote forged checks for his own benefit.  He was charged with bank fraud and obstruction of justice.  Wallace has also been ordered to pay full restitution. 

Read the story here and here.

Florida Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $131K From Non-Profit Housing Concern

Vivene Richards, 54, of Loxahatchee, Florida has pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled about $131,000 from Noah Development Corporation, a non-profit housing corporation, where she had served as assistant finance director.  The scheme spanned about 4 years, from 2005 to 2009, according to authorities.

Developing...

Read the story here.

Update (4/10/12): Richards has been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison.  

California Woman Arrested For Allegedly Embezzling Nearly $1.5 Million From Real Estate Concern

Jennifer Lyndi Davey, 64, of La Jolla, California, has been arrested and charged with embezzling $1.49 million from Beckman Properties, a group of related real estate investment firms, where she had served as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, Davey submitted fraudulent invoices from a phony company she created, Professional Advisors Unlimited.  She is also alleged to have altered or forged at least 332 checks drawn against Beckman accounts, used company business funds to pay off her credit cards and created phony credit card statements to cover her thefts.  Davey had been an employee of Beckman for 12 years and the thefts spanned a report 7 years.

Read the story here, here and here.

Update (7/23/12): Davey has been sentenced to 68 months in prison resulting from a plea agreement after pleading guilty last April to grand theft and forgery. 

Maryland Man Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $7 Million From Mississippi Company

Sanjeet "Sonny" Veen, 47, of Potomac, Maryland, has been sentenced to 40 months and prison for embezzling $6.89 million from Dunlap & Kyle Co., a Batesville, Mississippi-based tire and auto service holding company.  According to authorities, Veen issued fake invoices to Dunlap & Kyle from his own company, Orteck Global Supply and Distribution Co. LLC to importing tire which were never supplied.  Veen was also ordered to pay full restitution.  The scheme spanned about one year from March 2009 through February 2010.  Veen was originally indicted on 70 fraud counts in late 2010.

Read the story here, here and here.

Arkansas Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $270K From Company Pension Plan

Leander J. Muncy III, 44, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, has pleaded guilty to charges he embezzled more than $270,000 from Vouk Transportation Inc., a local transportation broker, where he has served as an executive, recently as president.  According to authorities, Muncy embezzled the funds from the company's pension plan principally by writing at least 19 checks over a period of as long as 6 years, from 2004 through 2010, to a new company he formed, B&E Transportation. 

Read the story here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Florida Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $500K

Carrie Elizabeth Pifer, 28, of Port Orange, Florida, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzling at least $510,000 from John's Appliance City where she had been employed as an administrator.  However, John's Appliance owner John Hinton believes the actual theft is more than $750,000.  According to reports, Pifer was responsible for taking each day's cash receipts and depositing them into the company bank account.  She is alleged to have misappropriating the cash receipts for her own benefit over a period of more than 4 years, from at least January 1, 2006 through May 17, 2010.  Pifer, who was originally charged with embezzlement in August 2010, was also ordered to pay restitution and will have an additional 10 years probation after her prison term. 

Read the story here and here.