Repeat Embezzler Absconds To Germany With Bergen Realtor’s $600,000 Repeat Embezzler Absconds To Germany With Bergen Realtor’s $600,000
Repeat Embezzler Absconds To Germany With Bergen Realtor’s $600,000 A convicted embezzler who’d apparently made a fresh start fled to Germany with $600,000 of a Bergen County realtor and commercial property manager’s money, authorities said. Detectives in Closter were closing in on Klaus Brueggemeier, 57, of Demarest, when he absconded to Frankfurt and became a wanted man, Closter Police Capt. Vincent Aiello said on Tuesday, Nov. 21. Brueggemeier made headlines in 2009, when authorities charged him with embezzling $1.7 million from a high-end porcelain and glass company in Carlstadt. SEE: Company chief skims $1.7 million to buy himself the good life, autho…
Feds Indict Bergen Advisor For Stealing $3M From Senior Clients To Gamble, Buy Home, Gold Coins Feds Indict Bergen Advisor For Stealing $3M From Senior Clients To Gamble, Buy Home, Gold Coins
Feds Indict Bergen Advisor For Stealing $3M From Senior Clients To Gamble, Buy Home, Gold Coins A disgraced former broker and investment advisor is now under federal indictment for stealing more than $3 million from clients that authorities said he used to gamble and buy gold coins and a new house in Bergen County. Kenneth A. Welsh, 42, of River Edge, "used his position as an investment advisor to gain the trust of his victims," U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. "(He) then exploited that trust,” Sellinger said. Welsh was working at Wells Fargo Clearing Services in Fairfield when federal authorities said he began shifting money from clients' accounts to that he controlled in Ju…
Manager At Bergen-Based Entertainment Union Charged With Embezzling $1.7M Manager At Bergen-Based Entertainment Union Charged With Embezzling $1.7M
Manager At Bergen-Based Entertainment Union Charged With Embezzling $1.7M The former office manager of a Bergen County-based union representing behind-the-scenes workers in the entertainment industry was arrested on charges of embezzling $1.7 million from the local. Theresa Gremillot, 58, of Saddle Brook, pocketed an estimated 3,000 debits from the operating accounts of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local #632 between Jan. 1, 2019 and July 1, 2023, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said. That’s an average of nearly 13 transactions a week. Gremillot was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 8, and booked into the Bergen County Jail to…
Former PA Hospital Director Embezzled $600K From Charity Account: DA Former PA Hospital Director Embezzled $600K From Charity Account: DA
Former PA Hospital Director Embezzled $600K From Charity Account: DA An ex-Doylestown Hospital director is accused of siphoning over $600,000 from a corporate account filled with charitable donations, according to prosecutors.  Norma Galagarza, 68, of Chalfont, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, forgery, and related counts, said the Bucks District Attorney's Office.  As the hospital's Director of Medical Staff, authorities said Galagarza was responsible for managing the Charitable Fund, an employee benevolent program financed through donations.  Hospital administrators contacted police in January 20…
Reading Worker Embezzled Thousands From Lancaster Co. Employer, Police Say Reading Worker Embezzled Thousands From Lancaster Co. Employer, Police Say
Reading Worker Embezzled Thousands From Lancaster Co. Employer, Police Say A Reading man faces multiple felony charges after authorities say he embezzled $16,000 from his employer.  Timothy Beegle, 29, is accused of stealing from a business on the 300 block of Stevens Road in East Cocalico Township, according to police.  He was arraigned on charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, and related counts and held on $30,000 bail, court records show.  Beegle is due back in court for his preliminary hearing on Dec. 1. 
$874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds $874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds
$874K Scheme: Former Danbury Postmaster Defrauded Postal Service, Solicited Bribes: Feds A 50-year-old Massachusetts man who once served as postmaster for a Fairfield County post office has admitted to defrauding the US Postal Service out of over $874,000 as part of a bribery, kickback, and embezzlement scheme that he operated, officials announced. Former Brookfield resident Ephrem D. Nguyen, age 50, pleaded guilty to a fraud offense related to his scheme on Friday, Oct. 13, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut announced.  According to federal officials, Nguyen, who now lives in Quincy, Massachusetts in Norfolk County, had been employed b…
New Update: President Of Stamford Church Athletic Club Steals $150K, Police Say New Update: President Of Stamford Church Athletic Club Steals $150K, Police Say
New Update: President Of Stamford Church Athletic Club Steals $150K, Police Say The president of a Fairfield County church athletic club turned herself in to the police for allegedly embezzling more than $150,000 from the organization. Daria Opolski, age 42, of Norwalk, was arrested by the Stamford Police Financial Crimes Unit on Tuesday, Oct. 3. According to Capt. Thomas Scanlon, of the Stamford Police, an investigation revealed that from July 2021 through Dec. 2022, Opolski misallocated $157,508 from the Holy Name Athletic Club's bank account by authorizing transfers from the account to pay her personal bills. The money was primarily used to make payments to persona…
Basketball Coach Embezzled Money From Fairfax County High School Event: Police Basketball Coach Embezzled Money From Fairfax County High School Event: Police
Basketball Coach Embezzled Money From Fairfax County High School Event: Police A 33-year-old basketball coach employed by the Fairfax County Public Schools has been charged with embezzling district money, authorities said. Drew Smerdzinski, of Herndon, is believed to have embezzled money from a school event at James Madison High School, county police said. The coach, who became the center of an investigation in July, was charged by a warrant on Wednesday, Oct. 4, and surrendered on Thursday, Oct. 5, with felony embezzlement, police said. Smerdzinski was released on an unsecured bond, and has been suspended from his position following the arrest. Want breaking news i…
Financial Controller Uses Bogus Bonuses, More To Embezzle $1M From Bergen Biz: Prosecutor Financial Controller Uses Bogus Bonuses, More To Embezzle $1M From Bergen Biz: Prosecutor
Financial Controller Uses Bogus Bonuses, More To Embezzle $1M From Bergen Biz: Prosecutor A 62-year-old financial controller from Oakland embezzled $1 million from a Bergen County-based business, authorities charged. Charles J. Vincent, 62, “used his position as financial controller to divert approximately one million dollars belonging to his employer to his personal control,” Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said on Wednesday, Oct. 4. “The theft occurred over an extended period and employed several deliberate methods of diversion,” the prosecutor said. “These included large unauthorized payments to himself disguised as bonuses, as well as payments from company accounts to …
PA Woman Embezzled $51K From School PTO: Troopers PA Woman Embezzled $51K From School PTO: Troopers
PA Woman Embezzled $51K From School PTO: Troopers A parent-teacher organization officer in Berks County is accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from the group and using the money to pay bills, state police say.  Alison Haines of Shoemakersville is charged with felony theft and access device fraud and surrendered to authorities on Tuesday, Sept. 26, according to troopers.  Investigators said she made $51,492 in unauthorized transactions using a business debit card issued to her by the Perry Elementary School PTO.  She spent the money at Aldi's, Walmart, and Amazon.com, and also made "a significant amount" of AT…
$20K Theft: Teachers' Union Treasurer On Long Island Embezzles Thousands In Dues, DA Says $20K Theft: Teachers' Union Treasurer On Long Island Embezzles Thousands In Dues, DA Says
$20K Theft: Teachers' Union Treasurer On Long Island Embezzles Thousands In Dues, DA Says The former treasurer of a teachers’ union on Long Island is accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars in union dues. Fannie Bowe, age 54, of Bellport, was arraigned on grand larceny and related charges in Suffolk County Court on Friday, Sept. 15, following an investigation into questionable expenses at the Bellport Teachers Association Affiliates. Bowe has been elected as treasurer of the union, which represents teacher assistants and school aides at the South Country Central School District, headquartered in East Patchogue, since October 2020.  She also works as a school mon…
Ex-Western Mass Fire Chief Embezzled $28K From Town, 3 Non-Profits: State Ex-Western Mass Fire Chief Embezzled $28K From Town, 3 Non-Profits: State
Ex-Western Mass Fire Chief Embezzled $28K From Town, 3 Non-Profits: State A Hampshire County grand jury indicted the former Ware fire chief on Thursday, Aug. 11, for allegedly stealing $28,000 from the town and regional fire associations, state investigators said.   Thomas Coulombe is charged with four counts of larceny over $1,200, the Massachusetts Office of Inspector General said. He is accused of filing inflated and false reimbursement requests to the town and stealing funds from three non-profit groups, of which he served as treasurer.  The Office of the Inspector General began investigating Coulombe after they received a tip about a…