Massachusetts Woman Sentenced For Embezzling More Than $120K From Bank Customer Accounts

Kathleen Didonato, 49, of Foxborough, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to one year in prison for embezzling more than $120,000 from bank customer accounts of North Easton Savings Bank where she had been employed as an assistant manager.  According to authorities, over a period of nearly 5 months, from October 2010 until February 2011, Didonato made at least 126 fraudulent transfers or used bank checks written on the customer accounts for her own benefit.  Didonato, who pleaded guilty last December to embezzlement, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, was also ordered to pay full restitution.  She reportedly used the ill-gotten gains to purchase personal luxury items, including an automobile.

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Missouri Interior Designer Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Clients Out Of More Than $1 Million

Kay T. Ottinger, 51, of St. Louis, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to charges she defrauded her interior design clients out of more than $1 million.  According to authorities, Ottinger, who ran Well Appointed, Inc., inflated invoices by as much as 30 percent and creating phony invoices which she presented to her high end clients for payment. 

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Pennsylvania Man Charged With Embezzling $196K From Bank

David Parsons, 38, of Shillington, Pennsylvania, has been charged with embezzling $196,000 from a customer account at Metro Bank where he had been employed as a bank manager.  According to authorities, over a six month period, from March through August 2011, Parsons siphoned funds from an account of a bank client who was in jail for his own benefit.  Specifically, Parsons created debit cards using the customer's personal information and account number and began withdrawing money from the customer's accounts.  Parsons was charged with identity theft, forgery and related charges.

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Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Missouri Man Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $189K From Financial Concern's Client Accounts

Duane Cook, 36, of Spanish Lake, Missouri, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for embezzling nearly $189,000 from client trust accounts at Edward Jones Trust Co. where he had been employed as a trust specialist.  According to authorities, over a period of more than 5 years, from May 2006 to June 2011, Cook siphoned funds from three client trust accounts at the financial institution.  Specifically, Cook issued false invoices and had 61 checks issued made out to “Fever,” a phony company he created to perpetrate the fraud.  Cook, who pleaded guilty in January 2012 to one felony count of mail fraud, was also ordered to pay full restitution.

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Illinois Man Pleads Guilty To Embezzling Nearly $100K From Auto Dealership

Robert M. Garcia, 54, of Maryland Heights, Illinois has pleaded guilty to charges admitting he embezzled $99,000 from Auffenberg Dealer Group, Inc. where he had been employed as finance manager.  According to authorities, Garcia pocketed customer payments over an unspecified period of time.  Specifically, Garcia pleaded guilty to wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison. 

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Michigan Woman Suspected In $250K Embezzlement From Gas Station To Feed Gambling Addiction

Bette D. Wicker, 61, of Westland, Michigan has been accused of embezzling as much as $250,000 from Rod Harris' Sunoco Gas station in Westland where she had been a trusted employee for more than 23 years.  According to owner Rod Harris, Wicker had been stealing from the business "for years" apparently to feed a gambling addiction.  She has been criminally charged on one count of felony embezzlement.

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Mississippi Woman Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud In Connection With $387K Embezzlement

Deanna Mickle, 42, of Florence, Mississippi, has pleaded guilty to bank fraud charges in connection with her alleged embezzlement of $387,165 from Barlow Eddy Jenkins, a local architectural firm where she had been employed as bookkeeper.  According to authorities, over a period of about 7 years, beginning in 2004, Mickle wrote checks to herself and forging the signature of a former employee who was authorized to sign checks for the firm.  Mickle is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16, 2012.

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Former Bank Executive In Louisiana Charged With Bank Fraud For Embezzling $200K To Purchase A Yacht

Richard Blossman Jr., 52, of Covington, Louisiana has been charged with bank fraud in connection with the misappropriation of $200,000 from Central Progressive Bank where he had served as CEO.  The fraud was perpetrated reportedly to allow Blossman to purchase a yacht.  Meanwhile the bank failed and was taken over by the FDIC and sold to First NBC in December 2011.

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Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Connecticut Man Strikes Plea Agreement In $458K Embezzlement Case

Athanasios "Tom" Louizis, 36, of Bridgeport, Connecticut has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors by pleading guilty to a single count of first-degree larceny in connection with his embezzlement of more than $458,000 from Barden Corp. where he had handled procurements through a third party, Industrial Distribution Group.  According to authorities, over a period of more than 4 years, from February 2004 to June 2008, Louizis created fraudulent purchase orders for electrical wires and drills, which he then sold to electrical contracting and industrial supply companies in Stamford and Norwalk at a "60 percent" discount.  Louizis was originally arrested in 2010 and charged with four counts of first-degree larceny. 

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Former California Attorney Sentenced For Embezzling $275K From Client Estates

William Peter Terhune, II, 57, of Pismo Beach, California, has been sentenced to 213 days in jail for embezzling at least $275,000 from his clients' estate trust accounts.  Terhune was also ordered to pay full restitution.  He pleaded no contest to felony grand theft by embezzlement in July 2011.  Terhune has also been stripped of his law license.

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Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Florida Woman Charged With Embezzling $200K From Non-Profit

Kimberly Sue Ross, 45, of St. Petersburg, Florida, has been arrested and charged with embezzling about $200,000 from the Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center, a local non-profit for which she had served as program manager responsible for the agency's finances.  According to authorities, over a period of about 8 years, beginning in 2004 and continuing until December 2011, Ross siphoned funds from the non-profit by causing banking transfers for her own benefit.

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Texas Woman & Accomplices Arrested For Allegedly Embezzling $185K

Laura Marissa Castillo, believed to be in her 30s and from Temple, Texas, has been arrested, along with three accomplices, for allegedly embezzling nearly $185,000 from Wolff Construction where she had been employed as head of payroll.  According to authorities, over a period of 2 years, from April 2010 through March 2012, Castillo wrote fraudulent checks to her accomplices, including Carlos Reyna Jr., Jeremy Mendoza Montalbo, and Michael Tomas Trevino, her husband, brother-in-law and cousin, respectively.

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Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Illinois Accountant Accused Of Embezzling $285K

Shaun T. Horan, 31, of Aurora, Illinois, has been charged with embezzling $285,000 from Resource One, where he had been employed as an accountant.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 4 years, from 2007 through 2011, Horan write company checks to himself or for his own benefit.  Horan reportedly attempted to hide the alleged embezzlement by altering or deleting entries in the company’s books.  He faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted. 

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Wisconsin Woman Charged With Embezzling $576K

Susan D. Tatro, 43, of Antigo, Wisconsin, has been charged with embezzling $576,000 from the Waukesha Bearings Corporation where she had been employed as Human Resource Director.  According to authorities, over a five year period from January 2006 to January 2011, Tatro wrote numerous checks from the company's petty cash account at CoVantage Credit Union to herself.  Tatro, who was charged with 30 counts of wire fraud, faces up to 10 years in prison, plus fines and restitution, if convicted.

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Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Former North Carolina County DSS Director Gets Slap On The Wrist For Embezzling $184K From Agency

Lisa Payne Davis, believed to be in her mid-40s, of Cherokee County, North Carolina, was sentenced to 44 months in prison but with all suspended except one year probation for embezzling $186,000 from the Cherokee County Department of Social Services where she had served as director.  Details of Davis' defalcation are scant.

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Massachusetts Woman Accused Of Embezzling More Than $200K From Real Estate Trust Accounts

Farkhanda "Kandy" Tarar Shah, 61, of Peabody, Massachusetts, has been accused of embezzling more than $200,000 from the trust accounts of her real estate businesses, K-Realty and doing business as Eastern Mortgage.  According to prosecutors, over a period of at least two years, from 2007 through 2009, Shah took down payments for short-sale home purchases.  Shah's real estate and broker's licenses were revoked by the state when allegations first arose in 2010. 

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