Average Americans Embezzle Millions Yearly - Imagine What Damage U.S. Politicians Do!

Frequent visitors to this blog know by now whenever I present this series of embezzlers extracted from the Fraud Talk Blog I'm extremely busy.  I got a few calls early this morning and don't have time to blog.  I will comment however that if every day folks can think of schemes such as these, imagine what the professional con politicians have done with taxpayer funds that have created the debt crisis over the past few decades?  Just a little food for thought.

Northern California Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $250K
Ken “Shorty” Ames, believed to be in his 50s, of Eureka, California, pleaded guilty this week to charges he embezzled $250,000 from Pierson's Building Center where he had been employed as head of the store’s charge center responsible for vendors.  According to authorities, Ames' scheme spanned a five year period from at least January 1, 2006 until January 1, 2011.  He was sentenced to 270 days, plus 90 days already served in an alcohol treatment facility.  According to reports, Ames was a 20 year employee of the store and the thefts may have gone on for much longer than the 5 year period prosecutors focused upon.  Ames was also the coach of the Humboldt Crabs baseball team.  Read the story here, here and here.


Kentucky Man Sentenced For Embezzling Nearly $1 Million From Auto Dealership
Gregory Woods, 48, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced today to 8 years in prison for embezzling nearly $1 million from Toyota of Louisville where he had been employed as the dealerships used car manager.  According to authorities, over a five year period, Woods siphoned funds from the dealership to fuel a gambling addiction.  Woods was originally charged with 183 counts of theft by unlawful taking and forgery last August 2010.  Read the story here, here and here.



Ohio Union Leader Indicted For Allegedly Embezzling $757K
Diana Frey, 51, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was indicted today on federal charges she embezzled $757,009 from the Cincinnati Organized and Dedicated Employees Union where she had served as its president.  According to prosecutors, over a period of 6 1/2 years, since 2005, Frey siphoned funds from the union by fraudulently writing checks, making wire transfers, ATM withdrawals and credit card purchases to funnel members’ payments into her own accounts or use them for her own benefit.  She faces up to 20 years in prison, plus fines and restitution, if convicted.  Read the story here and here.


Colorado Man Charged With Embezzling $259K From Bank
Stephen Bradley "Brad" Budner, 32, of Windsor, Colorado, has been charged with embezzling more thanearly $259,000 from the Cache Bank and Trust in Greeley where he had been employed as a bank officer.  According to authorities, Budner administrative responsibility for various customers' retirement plans and, over a period of 3 1/2 years, from December 28, 2006 to May 29, 2010, redirected forfeited retirement funds in 45 transactions for his own benefit. Budner has reportedly repaid about $221,000, but faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.  Read the story here and here.

New York Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $617K - Blames Gambling Habit

Sharon Oczkowski, 58, of Whitesboro, New York, pleaded guilty today to charges she embezzled $617,000 from Eastern Star Home & Campus where she had been employed as a bookkeeper.  According to authorities, over a period of at least 4 years, from 2006 - 2010, Oczkowski wrote "hundreds" of checks for her own benefit, cashing them with a resident's account.  Oczkowski, who was originally charged last December, is reported to have spent the money at the Turning Stone Resort Casino.  She faces up to 13 1/2 years in prison, plus restitution upon sentencing, scheduled for September 13, 2011.  Read the story here, here and here.

Former Head Of Oregon Halfway House Pleads Not Guilty To Charges She Embezzled $213K

Laura Marie Edwards, 39, currently of Providence, Rhode Island, but formerly of Multnomah County, Oregon, pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges she embezzled  $213,787 from the Oregon Halfway House for which she had served as executive director.  According to authorities, Edwards skimmed the funds from the federal facility over a period of about 3 years, from 2007 to 2010.  Edwards reportedly skipped a June 27 court appearance, turning up at a Rhode Island hospital after an apparent attempted suicide.  According to reports, the internal investigation also determined that Edwards has embezzled from a California halfway house.  The specific method of embezzlement has not been revealed.  Read the story here, here and here.

Florida Woman Charged With Embezzling From Law Firm

Brenda Wolcott-Kelly, 53, of Sunny Isles, Florida, has been charged with embezzling at least $170,000 from the Fort Lauderdale-based law firm of Hermelee & Geffin, where she had served as office manager and paralegal.  According to authorities, Wolcott-Kelly siphoned funds to pay personal credit cards and other personal expenses over a several year period.  An investigation is continuing to determine the full scope of the embezzlement.  She is being held on $116,000 bail.  Read the story here and here. 

Michigan Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $180K From Orthodontist Office
Rhonda Lee Wilson, 58, of Ottawa County, Michigan, was sentenced to 8 months in prison and ordered to pay $180,415.04 in restitution for embezzling from the orthodontist practice of Dr. Daniel George and Dr. Cadie George, where she had been employed as office manager.  According to reports, over a period of at least 3 years, from 2007 through 2010, Wilson skimmed from the cash receipts and made payments to herself disguised as legitimate vendor payments.  Wilson, who was a trusted 28-year employee of  the practice, as part of a plea agreement, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of embezzlement of between $50,000 and $100,000.  Read the story here and here.

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