Former North Carolina School Worker Sentenced For Embezzling $532K

Angela E. Potter, 44, of Kinston, North Carolina, has been sentenced to 5 to 7 years in prison for embezzling more than $532,000 from the Greene County School System where she had been employed as a benefits specialist.  Potter had been an employee of the school system for more than ten years.  She was originally arrested last September.

Developing...

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Update (6/13/12): Potter was sentenced to 5 to 7 years in Greene County Jail and ordered to pay $532,376.08  to the Green County  School System.

Louisiana Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $287K

Susan Fonte, 58, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for embezzling about $287,000 from a local real estate development firm for which she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, Fonte wrote fraudulent checks to herself and withdrew cash from the business owners personal accounts.  She plead guilty to wire fraud charges.

Read the story here.

Northern California Company Reports Alleged Embezzlement Of More Than $100K

Officials at Menlo Atherton Glass Co., based in Menlo Park, California, have reported to authorities that a 27 year old female former employee is suspected of embezzling at least $100,000 from the company.  The case is currently under investigation. 

Developing...

Read the story here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Mississippi Attorney Guilty Of Embezzling $362K From Clients

Vann F. Leonard, believed to be in his late 40s, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, is awaiting sentencing for his embezzlement of at least $362,000 from his legal clients.  According to authorities, Leonard transferred funds from at least one client escrow account for his own benefit over a period of about 3 1/2 years, from June 2008 through December 2011. 

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Update: Leonard, 46, was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay approximately $440,000 in restitution.

Former Rock Band's CFO Charged With Embezzling At Least $380K

Rickey Charles Goodrich, who just turned 54, of Novato, California, has been charged with embezzling at least $380,000 from the rock band Pearl Jam, for which he had been employed as CFO.  According to prosecutors, over a period of nearly 3 years, from October 2007 through June 2010, Goodrich misappropriated the bands' funds to support a lavish lifestyle.  He has been charged with 33 counts of theft for making "dozens of unauthorized payments, transfers and credit card purchases" from the band's management company, Curtis Management.

Read the story here and here.

Update (2/28/14):  Goodrich now 55, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison.   Read an update of the story here.

Maryland Woman Charged With Embezzling $118K From Pennsylvania Bank

Amy R. Eyler, 48, currently of Taneytown, Maryland has been charged with embezzling about $118,000 from PNC Bank in Adams County, Pennsylvania where she had been employed as an assistant branch manager.  According to prosecutors, over a period of about 4 years, from 2007 until 2011, Eyler misappropriated funds from customer CD accounts at the bank for her own benefit.  Eyler faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Read the story here.

Former Payroll Manager In Minnesota Charged With Embezzling $1.1 Million From Land O’ Lakes

Cynthia Carol Jacobsen, age 58, of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, has been charged with embezzling more than $1.1 million from Land O' Lakes, Inc. where she had been employed as a payroll manager.  According to authorities, over a period of about 4 years, from 2008 through May 2012, Jacobsen fraudulently used her daughter's name in the vendor system to make payments from company coffers for her own benefit.  Jacobsen reportedly has a prior criminal conviction for theft.  She has been charged in a one count Information with mail fraud. 

Read the story here and here.

Update (7/13/12): Jacobsen pleaded guilty to mail fraud.  She faces up to 51 months in prison.

Update (11/29/12): Jacobsen was sentenced to 26 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.04 million in restitution.

Former Fire Chief In Kentucky Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $273K

Paul C. Barth

Paul C. Barth, 55, of Louisville, Kentucky, has pleaded guilty to charges he embezzling about $190,000 from the WHAS Crusade for Children and an additional $83,000 from the McMahan Fire District for which he had served as fire chief.  According to authorities, Barth misappropriated both charity and fire district funds for his own personal use.  He was indicted in April 2010 on 16 counts of fraud and money laundering. 

Read the story here, here and here.

Update: Barth was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

Former California School Superintendent Accused Of Embezzling More Than $100K

Timothy L. Hanretty

Timothy L. Hanretty, 55, of Woodside, California, has been charged with embezzling nearly $101,000 from the Portola Valley School District where he had served as superintendent.  According to authorities, Hanretty misappropriated the funds which had been earmarked to install solar panels on two schools, to make improvements on his own home, by submitting fraudulent invoices for reimbursement.  Hanretty is also facing felony charges related to his prior employment at Woodside Elementary School. 

Read the story here and here.

Update (8/1/12): Hanretty, pleaded no contest to six felony charges admitting he embezzled $101,000 from the Portola Valley School District.

Update (10/22/12): Hanretty was sentenced to 2 years in prison and ordered to pay full restitution plus court costs totaling more than $180,000.

Former Municipal Librarian In New York Sentenced For Embezzling $163K

Margo Reed, 54, of Yonkers, New York, has been sentenced to six months in jail for embezzling more than $163,000 from three public library branches in Yonkers where she had worked.  According to authorities, over a period of about 6 1/2 years, from July 7, 2004, to Dec. 7, 2010, Reed misappropriated library fine payments.  Reed pleaded guilty last February to felony charges of grand larceny and filing false tax returns.  Reed has blamed her actions in part to a gambling addiction. 

Read the story here.

Nebraska Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $101K From Bank

Christina D. Srack, 30, of Kearney, Iowa, has been sentenced to house arrest for embezzling $101,000 from the State Bank of Riverdale where she had been employed. Prosecutors had alleged that from July 2007 until August 2008, Srack forged three checks and made two unauthorized electronic payments for her own benefit.  She plead guilty last March to theft/embezzlement by a bank employee of $101,238.18.  Srack was ordered to serve one day in federal custody, followed by six months of house arrest, plus five years of supervised release, and to pay $2,097.18.

Read the story here.

Former Office Manager Of Auto Dealership In Iowa Accused Of Embezzling $1.4 Million

Ralph L. Schippers, believed to be 57, of Pleasant Hill, Iowa has been accused in a civil lawsuit of embezzling more than $1.4 million from Granger Motors, where he had been employed as office manager.  According to the lawsuit, filed by Granger owner Tim Westrum, Schippers transferred funds to himself via corporate accounts and the payroll system for his own benefit over a period of at least 12 years, beginning in or about 2000 and continuing through until May 2012.

Read the story here. 

Suspended Rhode Island Attorney Charged With Embezzling Nearly $500K

Patrick M. Allienello, 48, of Narragansett, Rhode Island has been charged with embezzling nearly half a million dollars from client funds for real estate closings he handled as an attorney.  Allienello has been charged with unlawful appropriation and embezzlement.  Allienello reportedly had his law license suspended in 2010 on ethics charges as well as domestic assault and domestic disorderly conduct accusations.

Read the story here.

North Carolina Business Reports $313K Embezzlement

Morehead Associates Inc., a Dilworth, North Carolina-based health care consulting firm has reported to local authorities that an unnamed employee embezzled more than $313,000 from the company.  An investigation has been commenced.

Developing...

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University Business Manager In Georgia Guilty Of Embezzling Nearly $220K

Rebecca Adams Hill, 56, of Athens, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges admitting she embezzled nearly $220,000 from the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government, where she had been employed as a business manager.  According to authorities, over a period of about four and a half years, from March 2005 through September 2009, Hill abused the university's reimbursement system by submitting fraudulent expenses for supplies purportedly purchased with personal funds.  Hill was sentenced to 20 years in prison which was suspended due to her wheelchair bound condition and also ordered to pay  $219,795.69 in restitution.  Hill had reportedly worked for the university for 30 years.

Read the story here and here.

Former High School Secretary In Alaska Faces New Charges She Embezzled $100K

Gayle M. White, 44, of Wasilla, Alaska, who is already facing charges she embezzled from Chugiak High School is now facing new charges she embezzled more than $100,000 from East High School where she was previously employed as school activities secretary.  According to authorities, over a period of about 3 years, from 2006 to 2009, White pocketed funds paid by students for participation in various activities.  She had already been charged with, found guilty and sentenced to probation for embezzling about $5,000 from Chugiak High School utilizing a similar scheme.

Read the story here.

Michigan Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $108K From Banking Client Accounts

Tammy Lumbard

Tammy Lynn Lumbard, 36, of Allegan, Michigan has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $108,000 from bank customer accounts at Huntington Bank in Kalamazoo where she had been employed as a teller.  According to authorities, Lumbard simply pocketed cash from the customer accounts over a 2 year period from 2010 through 2011.  As part of her plea agreement, Lumbard will also have to make full restitution.

Read the story here and here.

Update (10/2/12): Lumbard was sentenced to 1 year and a day in jail and ordered to pay full restitution.

Former Municipal Treasurer In Virginia Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling "About Six Figures"

Wanda Gibson Smith, 61, of Buchanan, Virginia has been indicted on 12 felony counts alleging that she embezzled "about six figures" from the Town of Buchanan where she had been the longtime treasurer.  According to prosecutors, over an unspecified number of years, Smith siphoned funds from the municipality for her own benefit.  Smith was fired last January after she was charged the prior month. 

Developing...

Read the story here.

Update (7/5/12): Smith has pleaded guilty to the 12 felony embezzlement charges.  Smith had served as the town treasurer for some 30 years.

Update (8/10/12): Smith has been sentenced to 3 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $145,000 in restitution. 

Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling At Least $350K From Medical Lab

Linda Deselle, 59, of Alexandria, Louisiana, has pleaded gulity to charges she embezzled at least $350,000 from the now defunct Alexandria Pathology Laboratory where she had been employed as office manager.  Deselle, who was indicted last November on 10 wire fraud counts reached a plea agreement to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud.  As part of the plea agreement, Deselle agreed to make full restitution.  She is believed to have siphoned the funds from the medical lab over a period of several years.

Read the story here and here.

Update (9/12/12): Deselle was sentenced to 27 months in prison for embezzling more than $350,000 over a 4 1/2 year period.  Her former employer believes the thefts were closer to totaling $600,000.

Maryland Man Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling $885K; Spends It On Phone Sex & Prostitutes

Mark Chandler Goodnow, 55 of Pasadena, Maryland, has been indicted on charges he embezzled more than $885,000 from Wings To Go, a fast food franchise where he was CEO.  According to authorities, over a period of about 3 1/2 years, from September 2006 through January 2011, Goodnow caused checks to be written from company coffers to pay in part for for prostitutes and phone sex operators.  He has been charged with wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Read the story here and here.

Update (7/23/12): Goodnow has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2012.

Update (10/11/12): Goodnow was sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Trial Set For New Hampshire Man Accused Of Embezzling $104K From Fish & Game Club

Alan Colby, 51, of Brentwood, New Hampshire, who has been indicted on charges he embezzled more than $104,000  from the Plaistow Fish and Game Club where he had served as treasurer, is scheduled to go on trial on October 22, 2012.  According to authorities, over a period of 2 years, from July 21, 2008 until July 9, 2010, Colby made at least 60 electronic transfers from the club's accounts into a bank account for his construction company, Senter Brothers Inc.  Colby faces up to 15 years in prison on each state charge if convicted.

Read the story here and here.

Update (1/8/13): Colby was found guilty of embezzling a net $104,000 from the non-profit Plaistow Fish and Game Club.  Colby actually stole about $200,000, but returned more than $91,000 during the period of his thefts.  He faces from 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison.

Update (3/8/13): Colby was sentenced to one year in jail.

Wyoming Man Accused Of Embezzling More Than $2.5 Million

Gerald Anderson

Gerald "Gary" Emil Anderson Jr., 54, of Wyoming has been accused of embezzling more than $2.5 million from Star-Tech Inc. and Precision Analysis where he had been employed as finance manager.  According to authorities, over a period of about 10 years, from 2000 through 2010, Anderson funnelled funds from the company to himself and members of his family.  He has been charged with four counts of felony larceny, three charges of obtaining goods by false pretenses, and two counts of conspiracy to commit felony larceny.   Anderson reportedly created records to indicate that the company owed him funds he was not entitled to. 

Read the story here and here.

Update (4/11/13): Anderson, now 55, has been sentenced to 6 to 10 years in prison.  He was also ordered to pay more than $1.5 million in restitution.  Read an update of the story here.

Upstate New York Man Accused Of Embezzling $1.1 Million

Gary Yakawiak, 46, of Irondequoit, New York has been accused of embezzling some $1.1 million from Cascades Recovery Incorporated, a local recycling company where he had been employed as accounting manager.  According to authorities, over a period of about 3 1/2 years, from August 2007 to February 2011, Yakawiak transferred funds from company to himself and others for his own benefit.  Yakawiak reportedly confessed that he spent some of the stolen money on personal expenses and operating expenses for a bar he co-owned.  He also reportedly spent some on lavish trips to Las Vegas with his then girlfriend, Blanca Vigil. 

Read the story here and here.

Update (6/28/12): Yakawiak was found dead at his home in an apparent suicide.

Alabama Woman Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling $239K From Credit Union

April Mayfield McLemore, 30, of Guin, Alabama has been indicted on charges she allegedly embezzled $239,000 from Listerhill Credit Union where she had been employed.  According to authorities, over a period of nearly 5 years, from  May 2006 to March 2011, McLemore siphoned funds from the credit union. 

Developing...

Read the story here.