From ABC News on 5/31/13:
...authorities alleged that Linda Sue Foss bilked at least seven mostly elderly clients out of nearly $1.4 million.
According to an affidavit filed May 13 in Alameda County Superior Court, Foss, 62, of Dublin, Calif., stole from customers while she was working as a branch manager at a U.S. Bank on Mountain Boulevard, in Oakland, and then later during her tenure as manager of a nearby First Republic Bank branch. Foss had been an employee of California National Bank since 1983, which U.S. Bank acquired in 2009. She was let go from U.S. Bank in March of this year and began working at the First Republic Bank.
...
According to the complaint, written by Ron Miller, of the Alameda County DA Inspector's Unit, the thefts began in May, 2010 but were discovered earlier this year after a wealth manager noticed that that his client's bank statements had been altered. The wealth manager notified U.S. Bank about his suspicions, but Foss denied giving the manager the altered documents. According to records, on Feb. 22, 2013, $225,229.15 had been deposited into a CD account in the name of an elderly woman. This money was later removed from her account "in an apparent attempt to restore the missing funds the first elder's account," the complaint states.
When asked about the transfer of funds, Foss allegedly replied that one of the clients was repaying the other for money borrowed during "the Oakland Hills fire" in 1991. But the client said she had not borrowed any money; nor had she withdrawn any money from her CD. Bank records show that on February 8, 2010, there was $972,205.22 in her CD. On February 22, 2013, there was just $353,134.23.
...
Foss, who was being held on $1.6 million bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, has pleaded not guilty.
...
Monday, June 3, 2013
Former Insurance Claims Adjuster In Missouri Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $400K
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on 5/23/13:
A former claims adjuster for Allianz insurance company in O'Fallon was sentenced Thursday to 27 months in federal prison for defrauding the company of more than $400,000 that he diverted to himself.
Brian Behl pleaded guilty in February to mail fraud. After he serves his time, he will be under three years of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors said Behl worked for Allianz for about 10 years until Sept 2012, and the scheme occurred during the final 18 months.
...
Prosecutors said Behl set up a fictitious company called B&M Salvage Repair and registered a post office box in Illinois in its name, then sent more than $400,000 in supposed reimbursement checks to it, which he then used for personal items such as a car and a motorcycle.
A former claims adjuster for Allianz insurance company in O'Fallon was sentenced Thursday to 27 months in federal prison for defrauding the company of more than $400,000 that he diverted to himself.
Brian Behl pleaded guilty in February to mail fraud. After he serves his time, he will be under three years of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors said Behl worked for Allianz for about 10 years until Sept 2012, and the scheme occurred during the final 18 months.
...
Prosecutors said Behl set up a fictitious company called B&M Salvage Repair and registered a post office box in Illinois in its name, then sent more than $400,000 in supposed reimbursement checks to it, which he then used for personal items such as a car and a motorcycle.
Former Bank Manager In Tennessee Pleads Guilty To Loan Fraud Scheme
From The Chattanoogan on 5/23/13:
The head of BB&T's Chattanooga commercial banking operations has been charged by federal authorities with making fraudulent loans.
Tracy Brown is set to plead guilty to bank fraud on June 4.
Authorities said Brown "appropriated the identities of three customers and took out fraudulent loans in their names. In October 2012, a customer of BB&T, D.M., went to the Ooltewah branch of BB&T regarding a loan statement that he received in the mail. D.M. advised back in May 2012, he had been contacted by Brown in regard to a loan which Brown said had been opened for a different "D.M." but had his address in error.
...
The head of BB&T's Chattanooga commercial banking operations has been charged by federal authorities with making fraudulent loans.
Tracy Brown is set to plead guilty to bank fraud on June 4.
Authorities said Brown "appropriated the identities of three customers and took out fraudulent loans in their names. In October 2012, a customer of BB&T, D.M., went to the Ooltewah branch of BB&T regarding a loan statement that he received in the mail. D.M. advised back in May 2012, he had been contacted by Brown in regard to a loan which Brown said had been opened for a different "D.M." but had his address in error.
...
"Two loans were made by Brown in the name of R.M., one dated February 25, 2010, in the amount of $100,000 and one dated September 3, 2010, in the amount of $230,000. One loan was made by Brown in the name of S. L. dated December 14, 2011, in the amount of $50,000.
"Brown deposited some of the money from the fraudulent loans into a personal account belonging to him and his wife, and used the rest of the money to pay off some of the previous fraudulent loans he made in the customer's names."
Officials said the total exposure to BB&T was $475,000. BB&T prevented $124,000 from leaving the bank. BB&T was able to recover $30,638.90. BB&T incurred a loss of $320,361.10 as a result of the scheme charged, it was stated.
...
Former Bookkeeper In Louisiana Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $217K From Insurance Concern
From The Advocate on 5/23/13:
A former bookkeeper for a Baton Rouge firm was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months in federal prison after admitting she stole $217,347 from her employer and an insurance company.
Cynthia D. Windham, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud after telling Chief U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson she altered 190 checks that belonged to Strategic Case Management LLC, her employer from December 2000 until August 2009. She then deposited those checks into her personal account.
...
Jackson ordered Windham to report to federal prison by 2 p.m. June 24. The judge also ordered Windham to pay restitution of $192,347 to Strategic Case Management and $25,000 to another firm, America First Insurance Co.
...
A former bookkeeper for a Baton Rouge firm was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months in federal prison after admitting she stole $217,347 from her employer and an insurance company.
Cynthia D. Windham, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud after telling Chief U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson she altered 190 checks that belonged to Strategic Case Management LLC, her employer from December 2000 until August 2009. She then deposited those checks into her personal account.
...
Jackson ordered Windham to report to federal prison by 2 p.m. June 24. The judge also ordered Windham to pay restitution of $192,347 to Strategic Case Management and $25,000 to another firm, America First Insurance Co.
...
Former Utility Manager In Illinois Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $524K
From the Associated Press on 5/22/13:
BENTON, Illinois — The former manager of Marion's water department pleaded guilty to federal charges she stole more than $500,000 from the southern Illinois city.
U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton says Linda Heyde pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to three counts of theft and embezzlement of a local government that receives federal funds. She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Heyde managed the water department from 1996 until last year, when she was fired after suspicious transactions were discovered in her department.
...
BENTON, Illinois — The former manager of Marion's water department pleaded guilty to federal charges she stole more than $500,000 from the southern Illinois city.
U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Wigginton says Linda Heyde pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to three counts of theft and embezzlement of a local government that receives federal funds. She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Heyde managed the water department from 1996 until last year, when she was fired after suspicious transactions were discovered in her department.
...
Connecticut Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling More Than $500K From Synagogue
From NECN on 5/31/13:
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Federal authorities say a Connecticut woman has pleaded guilty to a charge related to the embezzlement of more than $500,000 from a synagogue where she was the president.
The U.S. Attorney's office said Friday that 45-year-old Jodi Churchill of Orange pleaded guilty to mail fraud during an appearance in federal court in Hartford.
Authorities say Churchill embezzled the money from Beth El Synagogue in Southbury starting in 2010. Authorities say Churchill used embezzled funds to pay school-related expenses for her children, expenses for leasing a horse, vehicle expenses, airline tickets and hotels for personal travel. They say she also provided stolen money to a relative.
Churchill is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 5 and faces up to 20 years in prison.
...
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Federal authorities say a Connecticut woman has pleaded guilty to a charge related to the embezzlement of more than $500,000 from a synagogue where she was the president.
The U.S. Attorney's office said Friday that 45-year-old Jodi Churchill of Orange pleaded guilty to mail fraud during an appearance in federal court in Hartford.
Authorities say Churchill embezzled the money from Beth El Synagogue in Southbury starting in 2010. Authorities say Churchill used embezzled funds to pay school-related expenses for her children, expenses for leasing a horse, vehicle expenses, airline tickets and hotels for personal travel. They say she also provided stolen money to a relative.
Churchill is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 5 and faces up to 20 years in prison.
...
Nevada Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $3.3 Million In Payroll Scheme
From Fox5 Las Vegas on 5/30/13:
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
A Las Vegas woman entered guilty pleas Thursday in connection to a $3.3 million payroll embezzlement scheme that stretched over three years.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, Deborah DiFrancesco, 55, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and a count of tax evasion as part of a plea agreement.
The IRS said, in an indictment, DiFrancesco mislead clients through a payroll business telling them the appropriate funds and forms they forwarded to her were sent to tax authorities. In reality, the indictment said, DiFrancesco sent a different form representing a fund amount lower than what was due.
She kept the difference, which amounted to about $3.3 million between 2009 and 2011, according to the indictment. The IRS said she used those funds for gambling and personal expenses.
In addition, DiFrancesco pleaded guilty to preparing a personal income tax in 2009 that was, as the IRS said, substantially lower than what she earned that year. In forms, according to an indictment, she claimed her taxable income at $28,218.
The tax agency said DiFrancesco, under a plea agreement, will pay restitution of more than $3.8 million. She was also ordered to pay the IRS more than $1.1 million.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
A Las Vegas woman entered guilty pleas Thursday in connection to a $3.3 million payroll embezzlement scheme that stretched over three years.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, Deborah DiFrancesco, 55, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and a count of tax evasion as part of a plea agreement.
The IRS said, in an indictment, DiFrancesco mislead clients through a payroll business telling them the appropriate funds and forms they forwarded to her were sent to tax authorities. In reality, the indictment said, DiFrancesco sent a different form representing a fund amount lower than what was due.
She kept the difference, which amounted to about $3.3 million between 2009 and 2011, according to the indictment. The IRS said she used those funds for gambling and personal expenses.
In addition, DiFrancesco pleaded guilty to preparing a personal income tax in 2009 that was, as the IRS said, substantially lower than what she earned that year. In forms, according to an indictment, she claimed her taxable income at $28,218.
The tax agency said DiFrancesco, under a plea agreement, will pay restitution of more than $3.8 million. She was also ordered to pay the IRS more than $1.1 million.
Montana Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $318K From Employer
From the Associated Press on 5/30/13:
...
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — A 36-year-old Belgrade woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling $318,000 from her employer over a period of four years.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says Athaliah Venus Allison pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity in U.S. District Court in Missoula.
Prosecutors say Allison worked as a bookkeeper for Big Sky Asphalt in Bozeman from the summer of 2008 until September 2012, when she confessed to using the company credit card.
An audit found nearly $250,000 in unauthorized purchases. Prosecutors say she also forged unauthorized checks and overpaid herself for the hours she worked, for a total loss of at least another $68,000.
...
Indiana Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling More Than $150K From Economic Development Agency
From the Courier Times on 5/28/13:
The Muncie man accused of stealing more than $150,000 from the former Eastern Indiana Development District has accepted a plea deal.
Troy Collier, 34, agreed to plead guilty to three counts of theft, class D felonies. In exchange, the state would dismiss one count of corrupt business influence, class C felony, one count of theft, class C felony, and two counts of theft, class D felonies.
...
Collier is accused of stealing about $150,000 from the EIDD and using it on personal expenses, including gas, groceries, Internet porn and electronics, according to a case report.
...
The Muncie man accused of stealing more than $150,000 from the former Eastern Indiana Development District has accepted a plea deal.
Troy Collier, 34, agreed to plead guilty to three counts of theft, class D felonies. In exchange, the state would dismiss one count of corrupt business influence, class C felony, one count of theft, class C felony, and two counts of theft, class D felonies.
...
Collier is accused of stealing about $150,000 from the EIDD and using it on personal expenses, including gas, groceries, Internet porn and electronics, according to a case report.
...
Georgia Woman & Family Charged With Embezzling More Than $2 Million From Dental Practice
From the Sandy Spring Patch on 5/30/13:
Rosemary D'souza, her husband Joseph, and daughter Karen, from Lawrenceville, GA were charged last week in what investigators discovered was an embezzlement of over $2 million dollars from Rosemary's employer, Dental TLC in Sandy Springs.
The investigation shows the thefts occurred between early 2009 and 2013 while Rosemary was an office manager for the dental practice. She reportedly paid herself over $800,000, her husband Joseph over $600,000, and daughter Karen, over $83,000 although her family had no connection to the practice.
According to the investigation, D'souza owned two homes in Florida. At some point, her employer learned this information and began to check the books which soon revealed evidence of the embezzlement.
Rosemary is charged with Theft by Taking, Felony Breach of the Fiduciary Obligation, and Financial Transaction Card Fraud. Both Joseph and Karen are charged with Theft by Taking.
...
Rosemary D'souza, her husband Joseph, and daughter Karen, from Lawrenceville, GA were charged last week in what investigators discovered was an embezzlement of over $2 million dollars from Rosemary's employer, Dental TLC in Sandy Springs.
The investigation shows the thefts occurred between early 2009 and 2013 while Rosemary was an office manager for the dental practice. She reportedly paid herself over $800,000, her husband Joseph over $600,000, and daughter Karen, over $83,000 although her family had no connection to the practice.
According to the investigation, D'souza owned two homes in Florida. At some point, her employer learned this information and began to check the books which soon revealed evidence of the embezzlement.
Rosemary is charged with Theft by Taking, Felony Breach of the Fiduciary Obligation, and Financial Transaction Card Fraud. Both Joseph and Karen are charged with Theft by Taking.
...
Indiana Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $130K From Church
From the Star Press on 5/28/13:
INDIANAPOLIS — Angela Renee Linder on Tuesday recounted her long battle with bipolar disorder, and said she was a survivor of both sexual abuse as a child and domestic abuse as an adult.
But the 42-year-old rural Yorktown woman was unable to convince a U.S. District Court judge that she did not deserve to go to prison for embezzling more than $130,000 during the nine years she worked as an accounting administrator at Muncie’s Union Chapel United Methodist Church.
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt imposed a 17-month sentence and ordered Linder to pay $138,000 in restitution — $38,000 to the church and $100,000 to an insurance company that had compensated Union Chapel for that much of its loss.
...
[the judge] noted Linder’s earlier testimony that she had at times attempted suicide, most recently in 2010.
...
INDIANAPOLIS — Angela Renee Linder on Tuesday recounted her long battle with bipolar disorder, and said she was a survivor of both sexual abuse as a child and domestic abuse as an adult.
But the 42-year-old rural Yorktown woman was unable to convince a U.S. District Court judge that she did not deserve to go to prison for embezzling more than $130,000 during the nine years she worked as an accounting administrator at Muncie’s Union Chapel United Methodist Church.
Judge Tanya Walton Pratt imposed a 17-month sentence and ordered Linder to pay $138,000 in restitution — $38,000 to the church and $100,000 to an insurance company that had compensated Union Chapel for that much of its loss.
...
[the judge] noted Linder’s earlier testimony that she had at times attempted suicide, most recently in 2010.
...
Wisconsin Woman Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $222K
From HaywardWI.com on 5/29/13:
At a May 29 hearing in Sawyer County Court, Town of Lenroot resident Charlene Murdock, 66, was sentenced to eight years of probation including six months in jail and was ordered to pay $221,951 restitution after being convicted of embezzlement from her former employer.
Earlier this year, Murdock pleaded no contest and was found guilty of five felony counts of theft of more than $10,000 in a business setting from her former employer, Bender Machine Works, and five felony counts of falsifying corporate records with intent to defraud as a corporate officer in 2006 and 2008.
Under the plea agreement between the district attorney’s office and defense, 10 other counts of felony theft over $10,000 in a business setting and 10 counts of fraudulent writings as a corporate officer from 2008-2011 were dismissed and read in for sentencing purposes.
...
Murdock had worked as a bookkeeper for Bender Machine Works for more than 40 years until she was terminated in September 2011. The town of Hayward company manufactures equipment for the dairy farm industry.
...
North Carolina Attorney Accused Of Embezzling More Than $100K From Trust Accounts
From BlueRidgeNow on 5.23.13:
Hendersonville attorney Alexander Veazey III appeared in Henderson County District Court Thursday afternoon under fire after investigators say he embezzled more than $100,000 from a trust in his care.
Hendersonville attorney Alexander Veazey III appeared in Henderson County District Court Thursday afternoon under fire after investigators say he embezzled more than $100,000 from a trust in his care.
Veazey, 60, waived his right to appointed counsel and hired attorney Chris Stepp to represent his defense. District Judge Athena Brooks set Veazey's next court date for June 14.
A preliminary investigation by the State Bar found that Veazey mishandled client funds that were deposited into his trust account, according to a consent order of preliminary injunction filed in Wake County on Jan. 31.
The investigation led to a warrant being issued for his arrest Wednesday. The warrant says Veazey embezzled, misapplied and converted to his own use “over $100,000” belonging to the trust account of "Lex H. Veazey" Attorney at Law between Jan. 1, 2011 and Jan. 31, 2013.
...
According to the consent order, Veazey is not allowed to accept funds from clients or third parties, or withdraw funds or write any checks against any account in which client or fiduciary funds have been deposited.
Veazey is also not allowed to serve as an attorney-in-fact, trustee, escrow agent, executor or personal representative.
...
Mother & 2 Daughters In North Carolina Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling More Than $100K From Healthcare Concern
From the New Bern Sun Journal on 5.23.13:
A mother and her two daughters have been indicted for embezzlement from a medical practice in New Bern.
Lisa Moore Norton, 53, and her two daughters, Katherine Norton Cannon, 21, and Courtney Norton, 19, all of New Bern face charges of systematic theft of more than $100,000 from Carolina Craniospinal Neurosurgery PLLC, a practice on Neuse Boulevard.
...
Lisa Norton was office manager at Craniospinal Neurosurgery for several years.
Thomas said Lisa Norton was in charge of handling the income and expense payments for the physicians employed there. Katherine Cannon and Courtney Norton were occasional employees of the practice in the past, but had not been employed for many months when the theft was discovered.
Warrants state the alleged offense occurred between July 10, 2009, and Jan. 4 of this year.
...
A mother and her two daughters have been indicted for embezzlement from a medical practice in New Bern.
Lisa Moore Norton, 53, and her two daughters, Katherine Norton Cannon, 21, and Courtney Norton, 19, all of New Bern face charges of systematic theft of more than $100,000 from Carolina Craniospinal Neurosurgery PLLC, a practice on Neuse Boulevard.
...
Lisa Norton was office manager at Craniospinal Neurosurgery for several years.
Thomas said Lisa Norton was in charge of handling the income and expense payments for the physicians employed there. Katherine Cannon and Courtney Norton were occasional employees of the practice in the past, but had not been employed for many months when the theft was discovered.
Warrants state the alleged offense occurred between July 10, 2009, and Jan. 4 of this year.
...
Municipal Treasurer In Wyoming Sentenced To Prison For Embezzling $276K
From the AP on 5.22.13:
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a former Guernsey town treasurer to two years in prison for failing to pay taxes on money she has admitted to embezzling from the town.
U.S. District Judge Alan B. Johnson ordered U.S. Marshals to take Leslie Diane Zynda, 39, into custody immediately after the sentencing hearing in Cheyenne.
Johnson ordered Zynda to repay Guernsey more than $276,000. He also ordered her to pay the IRS more than $75,000 in unpaid taxes on the embezzled money.
Prosecutors said the embezzlement started in 2005 and stopped after current Guernsey Mayor Edward Delgado was elected in 2010 and started scrutinizing the books.
...
Speaking after the hearing, Delgado said he started looking into the city deposits after he took office. He said it soon became apparent that Zynda, who served as both town treasurer and clerk, wasn't depositing all the money collected by the town's utility department. He said he alerted the town's attorney, Ed Buchanan.
...
Zynda told Johnson that she was driven to take the money by personal circumstances including her husband becoming ill. "I was acting as the main person of the family, trying to hold everything together," she said.
Zynda said she used the money on personal expenses as well as to help other family members.
...
Mississippi Woman Sentenced For $325K Bank Embezzlement
From the AP on 5.23.13:
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — A Marshall County woman has been sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison for embezzling money from a Holly Springs bank.
The U.S. attorney's office says 53-year-old Deborah Shaw of Waterford was sentenced in U. S. District Court in Oxford on Tuesday.
Court records show Shaw pleaded guilty last year to one count of taking nearly $325,000 from the Merchants and Farmers Bank in Holly Springs.
U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers Jr. placed Shaw on five years' supervised release. She also was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $327,842.
...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
