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McKenzie Regional Hospital nurse arrested for stealing prescription drugs www.privateofficer.com
MCKENZIE, Tenn. May 20 2013 – A former nurse is in trouble, accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of prescription drugs from a local hospital.
McKenzie police said they believe he was at it about two years before anyone noticed the missing drugs. Investigators said hospital administrators have made changes to keep something like this from happening again.
Police said staff at McKenzie Regional Hospital did not notice anything was wrong, until they said Gene Dougherty came into work one day, under the influence.
“This nurse was actually named Employee of the Year, one year,” said Lt. Rick Sawyers of the McKenzie Polcie Department. “They said he was a very good worker, and they were all shocked when this happened.”
After an investigation, Dougherty was indicted last week by a Carroll County Grand Jury on theft of property of more than $10,000, one count of obtaining Scheduled II controlled substance by fraud, one count of obtaining Scheduled IV controlled substance by fraud, and Tenn-Care fraud.
“They decided to go back and check their records, and they found that over that two-year period, he had taken drugs on almost 900 different occasions, involving over 600 patients,” Sawyers said.
Police said Dougherty, who worked in the operating room, took the medications from an automated dispensing machine.
“The patient would always get the correct amount that the doctor had prescribed , while they were in the hospital, but he would add to that, to the prescription, and then he would keep the excess and that’s the way he covered his tracks for that period of time,” Sawyers said.
Investigators said Dougherty took mostly injection medications, but some were pills.
According to police, the medicine he is accused of taking is so strong, you can only get it from a hospital.
“He was a nurse. He took care of people, and you’re doing this while you’re taking care of people? No, that’s kind’ve messed up,” said resident Tonia Moore.
Dougherty was released from the Carroll County Jail on $5,000 bond.
His next court appearance is June 10.
source-wbbj.com
Marquet Embezzlement Report Reveals Highest Rate of Employee Theft in 5 Years www.privateofficer.com
Boston MA May 20 2013 Marquet International Ltd. announced today that it has released The 2012 Marquet Report on Embezzlement – its 5th annual study of major embezzlement cases in the United States. The study examined 528 major embezzlement cases active in the US in 2012 – those with more than $100,000 in reported losses.
The 2012 Marquet Report on Embezzlement examined several broad categories related to the white collar fraud phenomenon of employee theft, including:
• Characteristics of the Schemes
• Characteristics of the Perpetrators
• Characteristics of the Victim Organizations
• Judicial Consequences
• Preventive Measures & Investigative Response
Some of the noteworthy findings from the 2012 study include:
• The number of major embezzlements increased 11% over 2011;
• Iowa topped the list of states with highest risk for loss due to embezzlement in 2012. Iowa was followed by Hawaii, Rhode Island, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Illinois, Florida and Vermont;
• The average loss was about $1.4 million for major embezzlement cases in 2012; and,
• 58% of all incidents involved female perpetrators in 2012.
“Sadly, employee theft is alive, well and thriving in the current US business climate,” said Christopher T. Marquet, CEO of Marquet International which conducted the study. “2012 was a blockbuster year for embezzlers and we are expecting high rates of embezzlement for the next several years to come due to the ailing economy of recent years. 2012 saw both the largest corporate and municipal embezzlement cases in US history,” continued Marquet. “With each passing year, the embezzlement schemes we see seem to get bigger and bigger.”
The study also included a review of 5 years of aggregated data and reported some conclusions Marquet has derived from analysis:
• Perpetrators typically begin their embezzlement schemes in their early 40s;
• Major embezzlement schemes span nearly a 5 year period, on average;
• By a significant margin, embezzlers are most likely to be individuals who hold financial positions within organizations;
• The Financial Services industry suffers the greatest losses from major embezzlements;
• Non-profits, including religious organizations, experience the highest frequency of embezzlement of all industry categories, behind only financial institutions;
• Iowa, Vermont, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Montana, Louisiana and Connecticut are among the states with the highest risk for loss due to embezzlement;
• The most common embezzlement scheme is the forgery or unauthorized issuance of company checks;
• Women are more likely to embezzle on a large scale than men;
• Men embezzle significantly more than women in major embezzlement cases;
• Gambling is a clear motivating factor in driving some major embezzlement cases; and,
• Less than 5 percent of major embezzlers have a prior criminal history.
Choice One Community Federal Credit Union employee charged with embezzlement www.privateofficer.com
Hanover Township PA May 17 2013 A Choice One Community Federal Credit Union employee is charged with stealing tens of thousands of dollars in bonus point awards from customers’ accounts.
Police say Donald G. Pientka, 49, of 217 Grove St., Hanover Township, illegally redeemed points belonging to numerous customers more than 700 times, stealing roughly $50,000 in awards in less than a year.
Tom Smith, president and chief executive of the credit union, said no members’ personal or account information was compromised. The credit union has absorbed the cost of the stolen points and replaced them for customers, he said.
“There’s no loss to the members at all,” Smith said. “We take pride in protecting our members’ accounts and information and we stopped something that really had no effect on the members, per se.”
According to a police affidavit filed in court, the credit union at 101 Hazle St., Wilkes-Barre, offers a program that awards customers with bonus points every time they use their debit card. The accumulated points can be redeemed for gift certificates.
Credit union officials became aware of the thefts after three members complained that bonus points to which they were entitled were not available, police said.
Access to the program and member accounts is very limited — only Pientka, an electronic services specialist, and Jill Koptcho, the vice president of member services, have access, the affidavit says. Each has an individual user name and password to log in, police said.
All of the thefts took place under Pientka’s user name and password, police said.
After credit union officials discovered the thefts, and while Pientka was on vacation, they copied his work hard drive and installed a program that saved screen shots from his computer at set times and when certain key words were used, according to the affidavit.
FiServe, the company that manages the service for the Credit Union, also began flagging Pientka’s user name every time he logged in and monitored his actions, police said.
The police affidavit says the thefts began in June 2012 and continued until Pientka’s suspension, but it doesn’t specify when that occurred. Smith said he couldn’t discuss when Pientka was suspended, but said he will remain suspended without pay pending the outcome of the case.
Pientka did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Police charged Pientka with felony counts of receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, using an unauthorized access device and identity theft.
Magisterial District Judge Rick Cronauer arraigned Pientka this morning and released him on $2,500 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing was set for May 21 at 11 a.m.
Source- citizenvoice.com
Delaware DOT Employee Arrested for Theft www.privateofficer.com
DOVER, Del.May 17 2013- Capitol police have arrested a Delaware Department of Transportation employee accused of stealing a co-worker’s credit card and then allegedly driving a state-owned vehicle to several ATMs in order to withdraw cash from the victim’s account.
Aron Johnson, 40, of Dover, was charged Wednesday with identity theft, theft under $1,500 from a disabled victim and theft of a motor vehicle.
Police said Johnson, who is a DelDOT employee, allegedly stole a credit card from a co-worker and withdrew approximately $500 from the victim’s account. Investigators said that in addition, Johnson allegedly took a state-owned vehicle without authorization and drove to various ATMs to withdraw the cash.
According to police, an investigation got under way when the victim reported the bank card missing on May 6. Police said that during the investigation, they developed Johnson as a suspect and recovered the state vehicle in downtown Dover the next day.
Johnson turned himself in late Wednesday and was booked on the aforementioned charges. He was ordered held in the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $2,500 secure bail.
Johnson worked as an operation support specialist for DelDOT’s Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator’s section in the Division of Technology and Support Services, according to departmental spokesman Jim Westhoff. Johnson was hired for the position on March 25 of this year, Westhoff noted.
Johnson has been suspended without pay pending termination, Westhoff said. He added that Johnson has 15 days to request a hearing to appeal the proposed termination.
Source-WBOC
Former Philadelphia City Employee Sentenced on Fraud Charge www.privateofficer.com
PHILADELPHIA PA May 15 2013—Former Philadelphia city employee John D. McDaniel, 39, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in prison for a wire fraud charge connected to the theft of $100,000 from a campaign/political committee. McDaniel, the former treasurer of the campaign/political committee for a Philadelphia city councilperson, was fired from his city-paid airport job after the city Board of Ethics identified numerous reporting irregularities by McDaniel in the campaign’s required city filings.
Between 2009 and 2011, McDaniel used several methods to routinely and, at times, without authorization, withdraw funds from the committee account, which funds he then used for his own purposes and other purposes. At times, McDaniel wrote and cashed checks to himself and wrote checks to Progressive Agenda, a political action committee which he controlled and from which he then took stolen funds. McDaniel concealed the theft by filing false and incomplete campaign finance reports.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Gray.
Stoddard County deputy sheriff arrested for theft www.privateofficer.com
Stoddard County May 11 2013 A Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department employee is in custody at what has been his place of employment for the past 22 years after a discrepancy was discovered this week in a business account he managed. 58-year old office manager Johnny Michael Robey of Bloomfield was jailed after being charged with felony stealing.
Sheriff Carl Hefner on Wednesday said he noticed Robey acting “out of character” in recent days. The department is in the midst of a routine state audit, conducted every four years. Hefner says Robey admitted that he had stolen from a department fund. Hefner says it appears only the one account that has been compromised. The amount of money missing isn’t being disclosed since the case remains under active investigation. The Class C felony stealing charge involves the theft of more than $500 and less than $25,000. Robey remained incarcerated in the Stoddard County Jail on Thursday under a $20,000 cash only bond.
Sierra Army Depot Employee Indicted for Theft of Military Equipment www.privateofficer.com
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Press Release
SACRAMENTO, CA May 11 2013—A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today charging Devon Gregory Biggs, 36, of Sparks, Nevada, with theft of government property from the Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, California, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to court documents, Biggs was a civilian employee working at the army depot in Lassen County. He was employed in Warehouse 301, which is the initial receiving point for thousands of military items returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Items being returned are packed in metal shipping containers by military personnel and shipped by truck and rail to Sierra Army Depot. Upon arrival at the depot, the containers are opened and their contents inventoried and then sorted for redistribution, declared excess to the Army’s needs, or sent to be recycled. In his position, Biggs had access to the items before they were inventoried and documented.
Depot commander Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Dexter said, “The vast majority of our employees are great Americans, enjoy coming to work, and believe that what they are doing is for the good of the country. We are committed to fighting theft of government property and will investigate any criminal activity that would undermine our mission.”
According to the criminal complaint, on April 3, 2013, as a result of tips about Biggs’s activities, law enforcement officers had Biggs under surveillance. Officers saw Biggs leave Warehouse 301 in his truck and then return and transfer a black backpack and other items from his vehicle to the back of a government pickup truck. Officers approached Biggs and detained him for questioning. A search of the backpack revealed it contained sophisticated laser and thermal imaging equipment. Other items were recovered in the government pickup and in Biggs’s private vehicle. The total value of property recovered at the scene was more than $80,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Law Enforcement Division of the United States Army and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jean M. Hobler and Christiaan Highsmith are prosecuting the case.
Biggs is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, May 10, 2013. If convicted, Biggs faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Norfolk City Employee Convicted of Fraud www.privateofficer.com
NORFOLK, VA May 10 2013 —Patrick R. Lambert, 56, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to fraud in connection with a local government receiving federal funds.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Norfolk Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Chief United States District Judge Rebecca B. Smith.
Lambert faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment when he is sentenced on August 16, 2013.
In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Patrick R. Lambert was a facilities maintenance supervisor with the city of Norfolk and was acquainted with Andrew T. Zoby, Jr., who had a plumbing contract with the city of Norfolk. Lambert owned a home and several rental properties in the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach and at various times from approximately 2006 through 2011, would request that Zoby’s plumbing business perform certain work on the properties. Zoby’s employees performed the requested work which had a total value of $17,547.57. Lambert did not pay Zoby or his company for the work that was performed on these properties. In order to obtain reimbursement for these services, Zoby, with the knowledge of Lambert, would submit fraudulent invoices for alleged plumbing services to the city of Norfolk. Lambert was aware of and acquiesced in the payment of these fraudulent invoices. As a result of this scheme, Lambert received free plumbing services in the approximate amount of $17,547.57, and Zoby was reimbursed this amount from the city of Norfolk funds. Zoby has previously pled guilty and will be sentenced on July 10, 2013, in United States District Court in Norfolk.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Norfolk Office. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Seidel, Jr. is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.
Bank Employee Indicted for Embezzlement of Nearly $250,000 www.privateofficer.com
U.S. Attorney’s Office
FBI
Press Release
CLARKSBURG, WV May 10 2013—United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that Deborah D. Radcliff, age 41, of Weston, West Virginia, was named in an eight-count Indictment charging her with one count of embezzlement by a bank employee and seven counts of structuring.
According to the indictment, while serving as the branch manager of the Weston branch bank of Huntington National Bank from July 1, 2011 to November 5, 2012, Radcliff embezzled and misapplied $247,249.88 from depositors’ accounts and engaged in acts of structuring to cause the bank to fail to file a currency transaction report for currency transactions of $10,000 or more. To execute the scheme, Radcliff utilized her position as branch manager to issue or direct to be issued cashier’s checks from funds withdrawn from depositors’ accounts issued in the name of the depositor. Radcliff would take possession of the cashier’s check, forge the name of the depositor, and cash the checks for her own personal benefit. The ages of the alleged victims ranged from 56 to 90 years, with all but one alleged victim 64 years or older.
The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of a money judgment of the $247,249.88. If convicted, Radcliff faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine on the embezzlement count and up to 10 years’ imprisonment and a $500,000 fine on each of the structuring counts. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John C. Parr and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Other indictments returned by the grand jury include:
Duane McAtee, age 43, of Metz, West Virginia, was named in a one-count indictment charging him with contempt of court. The indictment alleges that on April 2, 2013, McAtee disobeyed a lawful process of a court by failing to appear as directed. If convicted, McAtee faces up to six months’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-CI.
Jose Deleon Hernandez was named in a one-count indictment charging him with iIllegal reentry after removal.” If convicted, Hernandez faces up to two years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HSI).
These two cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul T. Camilletti.
Brian Farley, age 30, of Oceana, West Virginia, was named in a 14-count indictment charging him with six counts of obtaining drugs by fraud and eight counts of making a material false statement. If convicted, Farley faces up to four years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the fraud charges and up to five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on the false statement charges. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. and was investigated by the U.S. Deparmtent of Veterans’ Affairs/Office of Inspector General-Criminal Investigations Division.
Edward C. Crow, age 43, a former inmate at USP Hazelton, was indicted for multiple counts of possession of a prohibited object; assaulting, resisting, and impeding officers; and assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. If convicted, Crow faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment. This case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon S. Flower and was investigated by the Special Investigative Services Staff at USP Hazelton.
Shane O. Brantley, age 36, of Sutton, West Virginia, was named in a one-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm” on April 25, 2012, in Braxton County. If convicted, Brantley faces a maximum exposure of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
Ronald M. Starkey, age 27, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was named in a one-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm” on May 24, 2011, in Morgantown. If convicted, Starkey faces a maximum exposure of 10 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.
These two cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Christopher Weaver, age 36, of Morgantown, was named in a three-count indictment charging him with one count of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of cocaine hydrochloride. If convicted, Weaver faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine on each count. This case was investigated by the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations.
Welford Lee Harris, age 27 and Casey Smith, age 20, of Morgantown, were named in an eight-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone and multiple counts of distribution of oxycodone, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride. If convicted, Harris and Smith face up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine on each count. This case was investigated by the Mon Valley Drug Task Force and the West Virginia State Police. The task force consists of officers from Morgantown Police Department, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
These four cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zelda E. Wesley.
All of the charges contained in the above-referenced indictments are merely accusations and not evidence of guilt, and each defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Former employee at Cumberland County Juvenile Detention Center pleads guilty to theft www.privateofficer.com
BRIDGETON NJ May 10 2013 — The former employee at the Cumberland County Juvenile Detention Center charged with theft for receiving money he was not entitled to accepted a plea agreement Friday at the Cumberland County Courthouse.
From Jan. 2 to June 18, 2011, Willie Jones, 31, allegedly received pay for hours he did not work from Tammie Pierce, 45, who worked as a supervisor at the detention center. The sum of the monies totaled to $6,000.
Jones’ attorney Robert Luther explained that Pierce was giving Jones additional pay because Jones was having financial difficulties.
Both were arrested and charged with theft by deception on Sept. 6, 2011.
At Tuesday’s plea hearing, Jones pleaded guilty to third-degree theft by deception.
The terms of the plea agreement is one year probation. Jones must pay back the $6,000 as well as cooperate and testify if called upon against Pierce, who remains a defendant in the case.
Since her arrest, Pierce remains suspended without pay.
Assistant Cumberland County Prosecutor Mike Ostrowski represented the state.
Sentencing for Jones is scheduled for June 28.
Source: NJ.com
Washington Department of Labor & Industries employee charged with theft www.privateofficer.com
Bellingham WA May 9 2013A former administrative assistant for the state Department of Labor & Industries is charged with second-degree theft for allegedly misusing a state credit card assigned to the legal services division and running up more than $1,100 in purchases for personal use.
Court documents show the former state employee, Lisa Brennan, 41, has admitted to using the L&I credit card “for personal gain,” to purchase gift cards from August 2009 to February 2010.
She had control over the credit card because it was part of her job to purchase office supplies using the card.
Brennan, who lists a Johnson Point Road address, will be summoned to Thurston County Superior Court for arraignment on one count of second-degree theft on May 14.
L&I’s legal services program manager discovered questionable purchases on the credit card in June 2010. When Brennan was confronted, she “began to cry and said she was suffering from depression which she was getting treatment for.”
An L&I spokeswoman confirmed Friday that Brennan was terminated in June 2010. Brennan was charged with the second-degree theft charge on April 26.
Washington State Patrol spokesman Lt. Shane Nelson said Friday that it can take a long time to complete a fraud investigation and that even after it is completed, prosecutors may have heavy caseloads that can delay the filing of a criminal charge.
The statute of limitations for the crime is 10 years. Source- Bellingham Herald
Bank Teller Charged with Embezzling Money from Bank www.privateofficer.com
MINNEAPOLIS MN May 8 2013—Last week in federal court, a 64-year-old woman from the southeastern Minnesota community of Wykoff was charged with embezzling approximately $35,520 from the Security State Bank where she was employed as the head teller.
On May 3, 2013, Cheryl Lynn Holzer was charged with one count of bank embezzlement.
Allegedly, between December 2010 and February 2012, Holzer took bundles of cash from the bank’s vault for her personal use. She worked at the bank, located in Wykoff.
If convicted, Holzer faces a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Any sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge. This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.
A defendant, of course, is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.
American Plant Products Former Bookkeeper to Serve 24 Months in Prison For Embezzlement www.privateofficer.com
OKLAHOMA CITY OK May 8 2013 —Carolyn Dawson, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for embezzling from her former employer, American Plant Products, and for evading federal payroll taxes, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. In addition, Dawson was ordered to pay $1,843674.42 in restitution.
Until November 2011, Dawson worked as the bookkeeper for American Plant Products, an Oklahoma City wholesaler of greenhouse and garden supplies. Her duties included maintaining payroll, preparing payroll tax returns, and paying withheld taxes to the IRS. According to a criminal information filed on December 18, 2012, Dawson defrauded the business by using interstate wire communications to pay personal credit card expenses from a business bank account without the knowledge of the business or its owners. These payments took place from January 2007 until November 25, 2011, when Dawson was terminated. The information also alleged that Dawson willfully evaded federal payroll taxes by failing to file a 2010 payroll tax return for the company, failing to make payroll withholding payments to the IRS, and altering the books and records of American Plant Products to conceal her failure to make withholding payments.
On January 3, 2013, Dawson pled guilty to both counts.
Today, Chief Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange sentenced Dawson to 24 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence also requires her to pay $1,194,656.15 in restitution to American Plant Products and $649,018.27 to the Internal Revenue Service. The restitution to the IRS is based not only on her evasion of payroll taxes but also on her failure to report the embezzled funds on her personal income tax returns.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott E. Williams
LUBBOCK, TX May 6 2013
Three City of Lubbock Water Utility employees and two others were arrested and charged with theft on Wednesday.
After a two-month investigation, police believe the three employees stole more than $100,000 worth of brass fittings from the water department over several years and used two others to sell the brass for profit.
The three employees: Romauldo Guerrero, 36; Juan Carlos Sanchez, 25; and Jesus Flores, 25, are all charged with first degree felony theft, an upgraded charge because they work for the city and are considered public servants.
Nasaria Martinez, 22, and her common law husband, Fernando Marin, are also charged with theft of more than $20,000 but less than $100,000.
A 20-page arrest warrant released Wednesday provides an in depth timeline describing the two month investigation that led to the five arrests.
Starting on March 6th police were investigating a copper theft case at Jarvis Metals when an employee asked investigators to look at a couple, Marin and Martinez, who had been bringing in brand new brass fittings for over a year.
Two days after the investigation started, investigators were able to trace the brass fittings to the City of Lubbock’s Water Department, who had no idea the parts were being stolen. The warrant states and employee told them the city was the “only entity within 200 miles that would use a part like that”. It goes on to state “Once parts were inventoried upon arrival they are stocked in shipping containers outside where there is no accountability process for the parts whatsoever”. In fact, employees could simply go in and out taking parts they needed for jobs.
One week into the investigation, detectives received a warrant to put a GPS tracker on the pickup Martinez and Marin were using to drop off the brass meter fittings at Jarvis. For about a month police watched their every move, and within that time the couple made five sales of the brass to Jarvis.
Finally on April 10th police approached Martinez and Marin about the brass they were selling. Marin told police “someone had been giving them brass for a while to sell on their behalf”.
Martinez refused to talk with investigators, and it turns out her brother is Guerrero, a city employee.
After several interviews, all three employees denied they were taking the new brass fittings to sell. However, Marin told police that for years Guerrero, Flores and Sanchez would give him and Martinez buckets of brass fittings to sell to Jarvis. They would then give the profits to the men and keep $20 for each drop off.
Once the city was made aware of the theft they began an internal investigation, and determined that from 2010 to 2012 the city’s loss was estimated at more than $108,600.
Just days after the investigation began, city of Lubbock employees informed police that they are now using ultraviolet stamps on all their brass parts. The city also released this statement: “The City of Lubbock is conducting an internal investigation into the charges and will take any appropriate action regarding these employees when the investigation is complete.”
The City terminated two of the three employees on Friday.
Source- KCBD
Former City of Yuma employee guilty in theft of $23,000 from employer www.privateofficer.com
YUMA, Ariz. May 5 2013- A former City of Yuma employee pleads guilty to theft after police found stolen property inside his home.
Hector Valenzuela now faces up to three-and-a-half years in prison.
It’s been more than a year since he was caught with $23,000 worth of gas and garden supplies that belonged to the City of Yuma.
Valenzuela worked for the City of Yuma for 19 years.
He was originally charged with fraud, trafficking stolen property and theft.
Valenzuela will be sentenced in May.
Douglas Wal-Mart employee charged in theft cases www.privateofficer.com
 Ernesto G. Espino File photo
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According to Sgt. Jose Duarte of the Douglas Police Dept. at approximately 2:10 p.m. Thursday a member of the Douglas Police Department took a report of a missing purse which has happened while the lady was shopping at the Douglas Wal-Mart.
The victim reported to police that she had been shopping at the store at approximately 1:30 in the afternoon and that she may have forgotten or left her purse in the shopping cart.
Duarte said the female described her purse to police and reported that her purse contained all her identification, credit cards and some currency.
Douglas Police Officers conducted follow up investigations at the store and the officer was able to identify the suspect Mr. Ernesto G. Espino, 57, a Wal-Mart employee, who had an address in Agua Prieta Mexico.
Duarte said dDuring the investigation, it was determined that the victim had left the purse in the store shopping cart in the parking lot. Espino, who was picking up store shopping carts in the parking lot, was given the purse by another customer who had found it, but rather than turning in the purse to customer service, he placed the purse in his own personal vehicle.
Douglas Police Officers were informed by Wal-Mart management that Espino was still on duty and was called to meet with police. Officers met with Espino, where he was taken into custody without incident and officers were able to recover the missing purse without any property being reported as missing.
Espino was charged with one count of theft, a class one misdemeanor. He was cited and released at the scene.
source- Douglas Dispatch
Two Defendants Charged in Theft from Seminole Tribe www.privateofficer.com
U.S. Attorney’s Office
PRESS RELEASE
Florida May 4 2013
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced the return of a 10-count indictment charging defendants Frank Excel Marley III, 39, of Miramar and Maria Hassun, 66, of Miami, with unjustly enriching themselves by stealing from the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Specifically, both defendants are charged with one count of conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud; in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 1349, as well as nine counts of theft from an Indian Tribe, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., §§ 1163 and 2.
According to the indictment, the defendants sought to enrich themselves unlawfully by defrauding the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The indictment states that from approximately October, 2006, through on or about March 3, 2011, the defendants did knowingly and willfully combine, conspire, confederate and agree to knowingly and with intent to defraud, devise and intend to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money from the Seminole Tribe of Florida, that is, approximately $1,033,605, by means of the United States mails and wire communications.
It is alleged that defendant Frank Excel Marley III, an attorney who was retained by the Seminole Tribe, proposed to the tribe that they undertake a project to open radio stations at the Brighton and Big Cypress Reservations. It is further alleged that Marley retained outside law firms and vendors to assist in accomplishing the radio project and instructed co-defendant Maria Hassun, his administrative assistant, to increase the charges invoiced to the tribe by inflating the amount of his billable hours and billing the tribe for travel, conferences, phone calls and meetings that did not occur. The defendants submitted the monthly invoices by e-mail, United States mail and fax to the tribe for work purportedly done by the Marley Firm each month, which included inflated and falsified charges for the costs that had purportedly been incurred by third party consultants and law firms retained by Marley to assist him with the radio project and other matters on behalf of the tribe.
If convicted, the defendants face a possible maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for the conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud count and five years in prison for each count of theft from an Indian tribe.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI and thanked the Seminole Tribe of Florida for their cooperation and assistance with the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Karadbil.
Credit Union Manager Charged with Embezzling More Than $100,000 www.privateofficer.com
PITTSBURGH PA May 3 2013—A Lawrence County woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of embezzlement from a credit union, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The one-count indictment, returned on April 30, named Victoria Rozanski, 59, of 807 Jefferson Ave. in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, from in or around January 2003 until in or around May 2009, Rozanski, who was the manager of the Holy Redeemer Parish Federal Credit Union in Ellwood City, embezzled in excess of $100,000 from the credit union.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former Texas State Parole Officer Sentenced for Taking Bribes from Assigned Parolee www.privateofficer.com
DMV employee suspected of stealing credit cards arrested www.privateofficer.com
Palm Desert CA May 2 2013 A DMV employee is behind bars for allegedly stealing credit cards of people who he helped at the Palm Desert DMV, it has been reported.
The thefts took place on two separate occasions in Jan. and March earlier this year, Sgt. Brad Farwell stated in a Riverside County Sheriff’s press release.
During a follow-up investigation and with the help of DMV investigators, Martin Mendoza, 24, of Desert Hot Springs was identified as the employee who conducted the transactions with both victims.
Burglary investigators went to the Palm Desert DMV at about 2 p.m. on Thursday Apr. 18 and arrested Mendoza for credit card fraud and theft.
He was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio, Sgt. Farwell said.
Anyone with further details regarding this investigation is urged to call Deputy Aldrich at 760-836-1600 or anonymously at 760-341-STOP (7867).
Upper Freehold Regional School District employee admits to stealing $14K www.privateofficer.com
ALLENTOWN NJ May 2 2013 – An admitted to stealing around $14,000 from the district, including money from preschool tuition, after school club tuition and student activity fees, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Denise Zukus, 57, of Little Egg Harbor, pleaded guilty to theft by deception on April 19 as part of a plea agreement, prosecutor’s office spokesman Charles Webster said Thursday.
The accounts payable clerk took mostly cash, and some checks, from the school district between October 1, 2011 and February 28, 2012, Webster said. Instead of depositing the money in the district’s account, Zukus diverted the money to her own account.
Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick said in a statement that the district questioned the woman’s practices earlier this year and contacted the prosecutor’s office.
As a result of our cooperative efforts and the decisive and swift action of both the school and police authorities, the employee’s relationship with the district was severed,” Fitzpatrick said.
The prosecutor’s office is asking for a one-year prison sentence with no eligibility of parole, in addition to restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for June 7.
source-nj.com
Former Bookkeeper Convicted of Embezzling $1.3 Million from Mountaineer Racetrack www.privateofficer.com
WHEELING, WV May 2 2013—A bookkeeper at a West Virginia racetrack was convicted by a federal jury today of embezzling over $1.3 million dollars from her former employer.
United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld, II announced that Anita Ambler, 49 years old, of Virginia, was found guilty of 11 counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of wire fraud, and four counts of transacting in criminal proceeds.
Trial evidence showed that Ambler was involved in the theft of funds from an account that was being maintained by Mountaineer Race Track and Casino (“Mountaineer”) on behalf of the Horsemen’s Association. Ambler was employed by Mountaineer as a bookkeeper and managed and controlled the Horsemen’s account, identified as The Horseman’s Purse Account. The Horseman’s account included funds deposited by horsemen as well as proceeds from race winnings.
As part of her duties and authority, Ambler received cash that was to be deposited into the Horseman’s account. Ambler was also responsible for sending communications from Mountaineer to legitimate horsemen account holders and was in a position to know which horsemenheld accounts were dormant and could be subject to compromise and fraudulent use without discovery.
From in or about March of 2005 to August 6, 2010, Ambler embezzled and stole funds including cash for her own benefit and purpose. Evidence showed that Ambler used Brinks, which was a private commercial interstate carrier, to transport deposits of cash and checks (including deposits intended for the Horseman’s account) from Mountaineer to local financial institutions. Mountaineer and Ambler utilized an Internet-based accounting system to make entries to the accounting and bookkeeping records of the Horseman’s account, and Ambler accessed the account records via the Internet thus transmitting interstate wire communications.
Ambler faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each of the mail and wire fraud charges and 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each of the transacting charges.
The jury found that Ambler must forfeit real estate located in Reva, Virginia, and a Dodge Nitro, both of which were assets that she purchased with proceeds from her scheme. She also faces a forfeiture judgment of more than $1.3 million.
U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld commended the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and FBI Special Agent Wes Quigley for investigating the matter.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Randolph J. Bernard and Michael D. Stein.
Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr. presided over the trial.
Bank of the Ozarks employee charged with embezzlement www.privateofficer.com
Senoia GA May 2 2013 An employee of the Senoia branch of the Bank of the Ozarks was arrested Tuesday for theft and forgery after she activated dormant accounts, forged withdrawal slips and withdrew more than $39,000 from the accounts.
Kathy Graham, 56, of Senoia, was charged with four counts of felony first degree forgery and one count of felony theft by taking, according to Det. Jason Ercole.
Ercole said bank officials on April 17 contacted Senoia Police after an internal investigation revealed that one of their former employees had committed several acts of fraud against several customers. The officials provided detailed records and video surveillance footage from the bank to the police department outlining how the fraud was committed, Ercole said.
Ercole said the police investigation revealed that around September 2012 Graham used the bank computer system to identify dormant customer accounts. Dormant accounts are accounts that have no activity for longer than six months. When she identified such an account, she contacted the operations division of the bank either by email or phone and had the accounts reactivated.
“Once the accounts were reactivated, she forged withdrawal slips with the customers information and withdrew money from their accounts. She would then keep the funds for her own personal use. In all, four bank customers were defrauded for a total of $39,507.32,” said Ercole. “Graham was relieved of her duties immediately once the fraud was detected and, of course, was terminated once it was confirmed.”
Coweta County Senior Magistrate Judge James C. Stripling on Tuesday signed five warrants against Graham after hearing sworn testimony from the investigator handling the case. Graham turned herself into the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon, said Ercole.
Ercole commended Bank of the Ozarks officials and investigators for their detailed investigation and their quick action in the matter. Bank of the Ozarks reimbursed all customers for any losses suffered.
Landover Woman Indicted for Allegedly Embezzling More Than $453,000 from employer www.privateofficer.com
U.S. Attorney’s Office
FBI
Press Release
GREENBELT, MD May 1 2013—A federal grand jury today indicted Mercy Coffie-Joseph, a/k/a Mercy A. Coffie, age 40, of Landover, Maryland, on charges of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a scheme to embezzle over $453,000 from her employer. She was also charged with making a false statement in a passport application, using a passport obtained through a false statement, and aggravated identity theft.
The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Special Agent in Charge Niall Meehan of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
According to the 10-count indictment, from May 2010 through February 15, 2013, Joseph was employed by Systems Assessment & Research Inc. (SAR), where she had the authority to make electronic payments to contractors on SAR’s behalf. The indictment alleges that during the time of her employment, Joseph allegedly stole $453,125.52 from her employer by initiating funds transfers from SAR bank accounts to bank accounts she owned and/or controlled. The indictment alleges that Joseph laundered the money, using the stolen funds to draw two cashier’s checks for $40,000 and $50,000, respectively, to purchase a house in Ghana.
The indictment also alleges that Joseph used the name and date of birth of another individual, without the person’s knowledge or permission, to apply for and receive a United States passport, which Joseph then used to travel to Ghana.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of the proceeds of the wire fraud, including $453,125.52 in cash, as well as property discovered at Joseph’s home during the execution of a search warrant on April 15, 2013, including a video camera worth approximately $10,000, a Gucci handbag purchased for approximately $885, diamond earrings and necklace, a Movado watch, and computers.
Joseph faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and money laundering; a maximum of 10 years in prison for making a false statement on a passport application; and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
Today’s announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF), which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices and state and local partners, it is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory, and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions, and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit http://www.stopfraud.gov.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the FBI and U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas P. Windom and Robert K. Hur, who are prosecuting the case.
Cameron Park Man Charged with Bank Embezzlement www.privateofficer.com
SACRAMENTO, CA May 1 2013—Ethan George Banaszak, 34, of Cameron Park, was arraigned today on charges of bank embezzlement, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Banaszak pleaded not guilty to the charges; he was released on a $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell, Jr. for a status conference on May 17, 2013.
On Thursday, April 25, 2013, a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment charging Banaszak with embezzling thousands of dollars from his employer, a federally insured bank. According to court records, Banaszak made more than $660,000 in unauthorized withdrawals from bank customers’ accounts and took $16,000 cash from the bank’s vault.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Lee S. Bickley is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Banaszak faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Mansfield Man Indicted for Theft of $1 Million www.privteofficer.com
Mansfield OH April 30 2013 A Mansfield man was indicted on charges that he embezzled more than $1 million from an customer annuity accounts at an insurance company where he worked, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Willard C. Lee, age 51, was indicted on one count each of insurance embezzlement and wire fraud.
Lee was employed by Allstate. The indictment alleges that Lee embezzled approximately $1,056,000 from Allstate customer annuity accounts between July 2007 and December 2011. Lee forged customer signatures on withdrawal requests to Allstate and Lincoln Benefit Life, a company wholly owned by Allstate that sells annuities, according to the indictment.
Once fraudulent paperwork was submitted, Lee had the proceeds wire-transferred into bank accounts he controlled in Mansfield, according to the indictment.
The case was presented for indictment by Assistant United States Attorney James V. Moroney following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Mansfield Resident Agency, who in turn were following up an investigation by the Investigative Services unit of the Allstate Insurance Company.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any; the defendant’s role in the offense; and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Credit Union Employee Sentenced for Embezzlement www.privateofficer.com
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Press Release
BOSTON MA April 30 2013—An Adams woman was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Springfield for embezzlement and other related charges.
Patricia Piscioneri, 67, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to one day in prison, followed by two years of supervised release (the first six months of which must be spent in home confinement), 100 hours of community service, and a $3,000 fine. In January 2013, Piscioneri pleaded guilty to a 30-count indictment charging her with embezzlement of funds by a credit union employee and false entries.
While employed as the manager of the former Adams Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union (AMEFCU), Piscioneri embezzled credit union funds by creating fraudulent loan accounts in the names of credit union members and depositing the proceeds of these fraudulent loans into her own account(s), her husband’s account(s), other family members’ account(s), or used the proceeds to pay off earlier obtained fraudulent loans. In an attempt to avoid detection, Piscioneri created fraudulent loan documentation, such as loan applications and promissory notes and forged signatures on these documents, created false entries in the AMEFCU accounting system, and advanced the payment due dates of the fraudulent loans.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett.
Bridgeport Bank Manager Arraigned for Embezzlement www.privateofficer.com
SACRAMENTO, CA April 30 2013 —Roxanna Foley, 52, of Bridgeport, was arraigned today in federal court in Sacramento, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
On April 18, 2013, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging her with theft and embezzlement by a bank employee. According to the indictment and statements made in court, between October 2011 and March 20, 2012, Foley embezzled approximately $320,000 from the Eastern Sierra Community Bank where she was employed as a manager.
Foley was released today on a $50,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear before United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on May 29, 2013, for a status conference.
If convicted, Foley faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and a five-year term of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mono County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mono County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Reardon is prosecuting the case.
Former Executive Director of Indian Human Resource Center Indicted for Embezzling Non-Profit’s Money www.privateofficer.com
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Press Release
SAN DIEGO, CA April 27 2013 —United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that David Hedley, a former executive director of the Indian Human Resource Center (IHRC), was arraigned yesterday on an indictment charging him with eight felony counts of theft from the San Diego-based non-profit that received federal funds. The defendant was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on April 25, 2013, in Riverside, California.
According to the indictment, Hedley served as the executive director of IHRC between approximately September 10 and December 11, 2012. During that time, Hedley is believed to have stolen approximately $140,000 from the non-profit.
According to information disclosed at Hedley’s arraignment, on numerous days when Hedley was improperly withdrawing money from IHRC’s bank account, he was spending comparable sums gambling at a local Indian casino. For example, on October 9, 2012, Hedley withdrew $15,000 in cash from the IHRC bank account at the North Island Credit Union (NICU) located in La Mesa, California. On that same day, Hedley purchased $15,000 worth of chips, tokens, or gaming instruments at the Viejas Casino. Similarly, on the October 12, 2012, Hedley improperly withdrew $20,000 in cash from IHRC’s bank account at the NICU branch in Imperial Beach, California, and purchased over $20,000 in chips, tokens, or gaming instruments the same day from Pala Casino.
The IHRC was established to train and assist Native Americans with finding employment outside the tribal setting and was awarded over a half million dollars in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Labor over the past two years as part of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 established a national workforce preparation and employment system to meet the needs of persons seeking employment, including new entrants to the workforce, in order to increase the employment, job retention, earnings, and occupational skills of participants; improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency; and improve the productivity and competitiveness of the United States.
United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy commented, “The taxpayer resources provided to IHRC were intended to help create jobs by assisting the Native American community. I commend the FBI for its investigative work leading to these charges.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Daphne Hearn commented, “At the most basic level, this case is about one individual’s greed and the abuse of trust. The FBI will hold those accountable who line their own pockets at the expense of the American taxpayer.”
Hedley was arraigned on the indictment in the Central District of California before Magistrate Judge David Bristow; Hedley pleaded not guilty. Magistrate Judge Bristow set bail at $100,000 and ordered the defendant to appear in the Southern District of California on May 9, 2013.
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence that the defendant committed the crime charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the United States meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defendant in Criminal Case No. 13CR1129-WQH
David M. Hedley
Age: 38
San Diego
Summary of Charges
Counts 1-8: Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A)-theft from program receiving federal funds forfeiture: Title 18, United States Code, Sections 981(a)(1)(C) and Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c)
Investigating Agencies
Federal Bureau of Investigation
California Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control
Bank Official Charged with Embezzling Funds, False Entry in Bank Records www.privateofficer.com
PITTSBURGH PA April 26 2013—A resident of Pittsburgh has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of bank embezzlement and false entry in bank records, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The two-count indictment named Diana Phillips, 39, of Pittsburgh as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Phillips was an assistant branch manager and head teller at First National Bank. Over a period of roughly three years, Phillips embezzled approximately $129,318.38 from the bank by processing fictitious general ledger transactions and making cash-in deposits into an account owned by a family member. The defendant then transferred money from the family member’s account into accounts controlled by her and/or her husband.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 60 years in prison, a fine of $2,000,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Tonya Sulia Goodman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty
