Office Manager Embezzled $350K From North Jersey Synagogue, Feds Say Office Manager Embezzled $350K From North Jersey Synagogue, Feds Say
Office Manager Embezzled $350K From North Jersey Synagogue, Feds Say A 51-year-old Scotch Plains woman is charged with embezzling more than $350,000 from a Union County synagogue she worked at, authorities said.  In 2010, Stacy Margaritondo began working at Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains and was later promoted to bookkeeper and office manager in July 2020, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said.  Margaritondo’s duties included accounting/bookkeeping, payroll, preparing checks for accounts payable, and reporting to the synagogue’s board of directors regarding the synagogue’s financial condition, Sellinger said. From Dec. 2019 to May 20…
Purported Psychic Masterminded Scheme To Bilk Love-Struck Maryland Man Into $4M Scam: Feds Purported Psychic Masterminded Scheme To Bilk Love-Struck Maryland Man Into $4M Scam: Feds
Purported Psychic Masterminded Scheme To Bilk Love-Struck Maryland Man Into $4M Scam: Feds The purported psychic who masterminded an elaborate fraud, extortion, and money laundering scheme that resulted in a Maryland man embezzling more than $4 million from his DC employer will spend time in prison, federal authorities announced. Gina Rita Russell, 35, formerly of New York and Los Angeles, was sentenced to 125 months in prison following an elaborate scheme involving family members, one of whom threatened the Maryland man's young children. According to prosecutors, Russell met a New York woman and performed a psychic reading on her, convincing her that bad things would happen…
Mass. Man Admits To Stealing Money Meant For Veteran Suicide Prevention: Feds Mass. Man Admits To Stealing Money Meant For Veteran Suicide Prevention: Feds
Mass. Man Admits To Stealing Money Meant For Veteran Suicide Prevention: Feds A Haverhill man pleaded guilty to siphoning nearly $50,000 from a nonprofit focusing on helping veterans considering suicide to use on OnlyFans models and a cruise, authorities announced.  David Duren, 48, admitted to wire fraud on Monday, July 1, the US Attorney for New Hampshire said. He faces up to 20 years in prison during his sentencing on Oct. 10.  Duren was a program manager at a healthcare provider in Nashua, New Hampshire, and oversaw a $750,000 program funded by a Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant. The money was earmarked for treatments and services for ve…
Former Maryland Councilman Accused Of Stealing Campaign Funds: State Prosecutor Former Maryland Councilman Accused Of Stealing Campaign Funds: State Prosecutor
Former Maryland Councilman Accused Of Stealing Campaign Funds: State Prosecutor The Prince George's County councilman who abruptly resigned last week is facing charges for allegedly stealing more than $100,000 in campaign funds, the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor announced on Thursday. James R. Franklin is facing charges that include multiple counts of felony theft scheme, embezzlement, and perjury following a long-ranging scheme that began in 2009. According to the charges filed on June 20, Franklin established his campaign committee “Friends of Mel Franklin” in 2009 to raise funds for his election to the Prince George’s County Council, where he ser…
Woman, 36, Embezzles $400K From Employer, Bergen Prosecutor Says Woman, 36, Embezzles $400K From Employer, Bergen Prosecutor Says
Woman, 36, Embezzles $400K From Employer, Bergen Prosecutor Says A 36-year-old Passaic County woman is facing charges in Bergen County after authorities say she stole $400,000 from her employer, officials announced. Briana Rodriguez embezzled the money through unauthorized refunds to accounts under her control through her role as a medical billing professional, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. The investigation, led by Chief Mathew Finck, came about in March 2022 when Hackensack police notified the BCPO's financial crimes unit of alleged employee embezzlement. Rodriguez was arrested outside of her home on Tuesday, June 18 by Bloomfield p…
Woman Embezzles $47K From Darien Medical Practice: Police Woman Embezzles $47K From Darien Medical Practice: Police
Woman Embezzles $47K From Darien Medical Practice: Police A woman has been arrested on charges including larceny after she allegedly used stolen and forged checks to steal tens of thousands of dollars from the medical practice where she worked. The Fairfield County arrest occurred on Wednesday, May 29 in Darien, police said. A medical practice in Darien reported a former employee, 34-year-old Anisa Ymeri, for an alleged yearlong embezzlement scheme. From August 2022 to August 2023, Ymeri used stolen and forged checks to steal approximately $47,000. Investigators reportedly were able to link multiple checks, missing check stubs, and discrepan…
Contractor Admits Stiffing Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Nearly $500G For No-Show Work Contractor Admits Stiffing Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Nearly $500G For No-Show Work
Contractor Admits Stiffing Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Nearly $500G For No-Show Work UPDATE: An electrical supervisor from Bergen County admitted soaking the Hudson Bergen Light Rail for nearly a half-million dollars worth of no-show work, including while he was vacationing in Florida, federal authorities said. Joseph Ferrara, 56, of North Arlington, "submitted claims for compensation covering hundreds of hours relating to work allegedly performed during regular, overtime and double time hours" that was, in fact, never done, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip Sellinger said. Ferrara, who worked as an electrical supervisor for a subcontractor hired by the light rail system,…
Former Bucks Hospital Director Pleads Guilty To Stealing $600K From Charitable Account: DA Former Bucks Hospital Director Pleads Guilty To Stealing $600K From Charitable Account: DA
Former Bucks Hospital Director Pleads Guilty To Stealing $600K From Charitable Account: DA A one-time director of Doylestown Hospital pleaded guilty to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars on Monday, April 15, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.  Norma Galagarza, 68, of Chalfont, was previously accused of siphoning over $600,000 from a corporate account filled with charitable donations, Daily Voice reported.  On Monday, she entered an open guilty plea to felony counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, forgery, access device fraud, and computer trespass, the DA's Office said.  She was sentenced to five years' pr…
$750K Scheme: Long Island Probation Officer Admits Stealing Employee's Welfare Funds $750K Scheme: Long Island Probation Officer Admits Stealing Employee's Welfare Funds
$750K Scheme: Long Island Probation Officer Admits Stealing Employee's Welfare Funds A Long Island man who served as the president of a probation officer’s union pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly a quarter of a million dollars from the union and its welfare funds. Dominic Coluccio, age 74 of Bellmore, entered his guilty plea for wire fraud on Thursday, April 11, the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York announced. Coluccio served as the President of the United Probation Officers Association (UPOA) from 1989 until about 2016. The UPOA is a labor organization representing current and retired officers and supervisors in the New York City Department …
PA Youth Club Treasurer Purchased Eagles Tickets For Husband, Vacationed With Stolen $136K: DA PA Youth Club Treasurer Purchased Eagles Tickets For Husband, Vacationed With Stolen $136K: DA
PA Youth Club Treasurer Purchased Eagles Tickets For Husband, Vacationed With Stolen $136K: DA The treasurer of a Delaware County-based youth sports non-profit organization has been arrested on accusations she stole more than $136,000 from it, authorities said. Kathleen "Kathy" Hammond, 54, of Springfield, has served as the treasurer of the Springfield Youth Club (SYC) since 2018, but was terminated amid the accusations, the county's District Attorney said. Hammond used the money on an "array of personal expenses," including vacations, concerts, and tickets to Eagles games, DA Jack Stollsteimer said. Hammond admitted to the thefts when SYC confronted her about missing funds fro…
Former DC Non-Profit Leader Gets Prison Time For $150K Affordable Housing Embezzlement Scheme Former DC Non-Profit Leader Gets Prison Time For $150K Affordable Housing Embezzlement Scheme
Former DC Non-Profit Leader Gets Prison Time For $150K Affordable Housing Embezzlement Scheme A minister who was the former head of a non-profit organization in Southeast DC is heading to prison taking from the poor and giving to her self while embezzling more than $150,000 from its coffers, federal authorities announced. Rowena Joyce Scott, 71, was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison for a scheme to steal money from a corporation she was entrusted to run which was created to aid some of the District's economically-challenged residents. According to prosecutors, Scott – a minister and the former head of the Ward 8 Democrats – was convicted following a June 2023 jury…
Over $955K Scheme: Former CT Office Manager Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement Over $955K Scheme: Former CT Office Manager Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement
Over $955K Scheme: Former CT Office Manager Gets Years In Prison For Embezzlement A 53-year-old former office manager from Connecticut will spend years in prison for embezzling nearly $956,000 from the family-owned construction business she worked for, officials announced. New Haven County resident Erin Sullivan of Cheshire, age 53, was sentenced on Wednesday, Feb. 21 to 24 months in prison for her embezzlement scheme and tax fraud, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced. According to federal officials, Sullivan was employed as the office manager for the Orange-based construction business she worked for. Beginning at least as early as 2016, Su…