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CT Funeral Home Owner Launches Campaign To Help Victims Of Alleged $70K Vernon Funeral Scam
A group is working to help victims of an alleged Connecticut funeral scam involving a former funeral home owner accused of embezzling more than $70,000 from funds meant for burials and other services, to allegedly fuel his gambling habit.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was arrested Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Dozens of people had given Pietras money intended for escrow accounts, which would have been available to cover funeral costs when needed, police said. They later learned the money was never deposited, and now they mu…
Employee Steals $90K From Restaurant In Saratoga Springs, Police Say
A Capital Region woman is facing charges after allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from her employer.
Ashley Hervieux, 38, was arrested in April following an investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office, the agency revealed Tuesday, May 6.
Deputies determined that Hervieux, of Queensbury, stole over $90,000 from a Saratoga Springs business during a three-year period, police said.
While the sheriff’s office did not name the victim's business, relatives of the owner confirmed on social media that the thefts occurred at the Thorn and Roots restaurant, located on Marion …
Ex-Library Staffer From Hawthorne Admits Embezzling $3.2M From Couple Who Trusted Him, Feds Say
A Passaic County man and former tech administrator at a Bergen County library admitted to embezzling more than $3.2 million from a local couple who had hired him as a part-time personal assistant, federal prosecutors said.
Charles Gallo, 34, of Hawthorne, pleaded guilty in Newark federal court to one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba said Friday, May 2.
Gallo began working for the victims in 2018, helping manage their bills, banking, emails, and tech issues, court documents say. From March 2022 to March 2023, Gallo used his access to steal millions, including making ATM withdra…
Ex-Church Bookkeeper Embezzled $80K From Selden Parish, DA Says
A woman who once handled the books at a Long Island church embezzled nearly $80,000 from the parish, prosecutors alleged.
Stacey Hirsch, 48, formerly of Centereach and now living in Saint Lucie, Florida, was arraigned on grand larceny charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, May 2, after being extradited from Florida.
Hirsch served as the bookkeeper for Hope Lutheran Church on Dare Road in Selden, according to her Facebook profile. Between June 2022 and May 2023, she wrote unauthorized checks to herself and her husband from the church’s account — then used the money to pay off credi…
Floral Park Attorney Blew $1.2M On Strip Clubs, Luxury Hotels Using Stolen Client Funds: DA
A Long Island real estate attorney is accused of stealing more than $1.2 million in client funds that instead went toward luxury hotels, restaurants, and strip clubs, prosecutors said.
Terrance Dougherty, 36, of Oyster Bay, was arraigned on fraud and related charges in Nassau County Court on Wednesday, April 30, stemming from a case that District Attorney Anne Donnelly decried as a “disgraceful abuse of trust.”
Between March 2021 and November 2024, Dougherty embezzled escrow funds from at least 20 victims while operating a law office on Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park, prosecutors alleged. …
Vernon Funeral Home Owner Stole $71K From Clients to Fund Gambling, Shopping Sprees: Police
A Connecticut funeral home owner was arrested this week after police said he embezzled $71,000 from mentally and physically disabled clients, using the funds to gamble, shop, and dine out.
Philip Pietras, 51, of Coventry, was taken into custody on Sunday, April 6, and charged with first-degree larceny, according to Connecticut State Police.
Police began investigating Pietras in October 2024 after a financial agency that manages funds for disabled adults reported discrepancies in payments sent to one of Pietras’ funeral homes.
Pietras owns four funeral homes, including Bassinger and Do…
$750K Stolen From Family, Friends In Financial Scam: Berks DA
A Berks County man is accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from family and friends over the course of more than a decade, authorities announced on Monday, April 7.
Santiago J. Torres, 41, of Sinking Spring, has been charged with 17 counts of Felony Theft by Deception, 11 counts of Felony Identity Theft, 11 counts of Felony Forgery, and seven counts of Felony Access Device Used to Obtain or Attempt to Obtain Property, according to Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams.
Detectives launched an investigation in August 2024 after multiple victims came forward with concer…
Office Manager Admits To Embezzling $350K From Scotch Plains Synagogue, Feds Say
A 52-year-old Scotch Plains woman pleaded guilty on Thursday, March 20, to 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 John Giordano 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, Giordano said.
From Dec. 2019 to Ma…
$200K Scheme: Man Accused of Embezzling From Civic Organizations In Garrison, Police Say
A Putnam County resident entrusted as the treasurer for two local civic organizations has been arrested for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 over several years, authorities announced.
Mark A. Kenny, age 61, was arrested on Wednesday, March 12, on grand larceny charges following an investigation that began in December, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced on Thursday, March 13.
According to the Sheriff's Office, the investigation began when board members from a civic organization in Garrison contacted authorities, suspecting that their treasurer was stealing funds.…
$127K Scheme: Woman Steals From Wallkill Employer, Buys Luxury Car In Its Name, DA Says
A 46-year-old woman has admitted to embezzling more than $127,000 from her Orange County employer and even going as far as to forge a contract that showed she owned the company, prosecutors said.
Meghan Henesy, 46, of Panama City, Florida, pleaded guilty on Monday, Feb. 24, in Orange County Court to second-degree grand larceny, according to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler.
Henesy worked as a bookkeeper and office manager for a Wallkill-based title insurance company from 2020 through 2022, during which she carried out a series of fraudulent schemes to steal company funds for…
Fairfield Attorney Stole $7.4M Over Decade During His Time As Banks' Lead Counsel: Feds
A Connecticut man who held powerful positions at several banks, including General Counsel and Executive Vice President, faces up to 30 years in prison for orchestrating a decade-long embezzlement scheme that defrauded his employers of more than $7 million, federal authorities said.
James Blose, 56, waived indictment and pleaded guilty in New Haven federal court to bank fraud and illegal monetary transactions on Friday, Dec. 20, per the US Attorney for Connecticut. His actions, spanning from 2013 to 2023, were uncovered after an extensive investigation by federal authorities, inclu…
Ex-Westport Exec Who Stole $4.4M From CT Company In Crypto Scam Gets 4 Years: Feds
A former Connecticut finance executive will serve four years in prison for embezzling more than $4 million from his employer in a slapdash cryptocurrency fraud scheme, federal authorities said.
Dylan Meissner, 31, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison, followed by two years of probation, after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges, The US District Attorney for Connecticut said this week. Meissner must also repay the company $4,633,424.99 — $4.4 million of which he stole, and the rest is for a loan, authorities said.
As vice president of finance at a cryptocurrency …
Greencastle Woman Embezzles $148K From Swimming Pool Over 7 Years: Police
A Greencastle woman is accused of embezzling over $148,000 while serving as treasurer for Moss Spring Pool, Greencastle police announced on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Krista D. Murr, 55, was charged after investigators uncovered financial discrepancies spanning from July 2017 to July 2024, according to police.
The investigation began on July 22, 2024, when concerns were raised about irregularities in financial records and fund management. Working with the Franklin County District Attorney's Office, police discovered that $148,292.56 had been misappropriated, authorities said.
“Our department …
Former NFL Player, UVA Alum Turned Developer Charged With Embezzlement In Virginia: Feds
A former NFL player who was a standout at the University of Virginia is facing federal charges for alleged embezzlement, authorities announced.
Christopher Harrison, 52, was charged by a grand jury for allegedly misappropriating loans intended for the development of two projects linked to his real estate company.
According to the indictment, Harrison allegedly secured loans from Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust (CRBT) for $14,492,057 for the Model Tobacco Project in Richmond and $7,706,675 for the Whitaker Park Project in North Carolina.
Under the terms of the agreements, the former offe…
Ex-Leader Admits To Stealing $76K From Dix Hills Children's Soccer Club
A man who helped run a Long Island soccer club for children admitted in court that he embezzled more than $76,000 from the group to use on personal expenses, the authorities said.
Matthew Dickson, age 44, of Dix Hills, pleaded guilty on Friday, Sept. 6, to a single count of petit larceny, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said.
As part of his plea deal, Dickson must repay $76,237 to the soccer club, write a letter of apology to the board of directors, serve three years probation, and complete 400 hours of community service, the prosecutor said.
Dickson served …
Former CFO From Westfield Gets Five Years For Stealing Millions From Law Firm: AG
A 61-year-old Westfield resident was sentenced on Friday, July 26, to five years in prison after he admitted to embezzling over $1.5 million from the law firm where he worked as chief financial officer, the New Jersey Attorney General's Office said.
John Dunlea was the CFO at McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, a national law firm based in Morristown, Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
Between 2017 and 2022, Dunlea misappropriated funds from the firm by paying himself $1.2 million. He also rung up $355,256 in charges on the company credit card, paying for flights, hotels a…
