Brooklyn Charity Exec Sentenced: 21 Months for $2.3M Theft

BROOKLYN, NY – Marcia Joseph, 59, of Baldwin, Long Island, will spend the next 21 months behind bars after being sentenced today for systematically looting a Brooklyn charity dedicated to helping those most in need. Joseph, a former senior fiscal officer, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in January, admitting to a nearly 17-year scheme to funnel $2,339,700 into her own pockets.

The sentence, handed down by United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano, also includes a hefty financial reckoning: $2.3 million in restitution and another $2.3 million in forfeiture. Joseph wasn’t skimming a few dollars; she built a phantom company and flooded the non-profit with over 500 fabricated invoices, masking her theft within the legitimate accounting systems.

“By stealing from a charity she was entrusted to serve, the defendant shamefully diverted resources from those in need to line her own pockets,” blasted United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. “Today’s sentence makes clear that those who exploit non-profits for personal gain will face the loss of their freedom and serious financial penalties.” The investigation, a joint effort by the FBI and the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), exposed a brazen pattern of abuse.

For nearly two decades, Joseph lived a lavish lifestyle funded by stolen funds. Court filings detail a spending spree that included $235,000 in mortgage payments, $207,000 in credit card bills, nearly $100,000 in car payments, and $45,000 dropped at Amazon. The stolen money also financed home renovations, spa days, landscaping, and a steady stream of luxury goods. The non-profit, which provides employment and education services for vulnerable New Yorkers, was allegedly defrauded through invoices linked to a New York City Department of Education program.

“Marcia Joseph abused her position and access within a non-profit charity to steal more than two million dollars intended to fund critical employment and education services for the city,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “For nearly two decades, Joseph selfishly prioritized her extravagant lifestyle at the expense of those who truly needed the financial aid.” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber added, “This defendant had a duty to act in the best interests of this City-funded organization; instead she abused her position… to steal over $2.3 million.”

The prosecution, handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section, relied on the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Silverberg, Claire S. Kedeshian, and Daniel Saavedra. Joseph, who also went by the aliases Marcia James, Marcia Lewis, and Marcia Peters, now faces the consequences of a long-running betrayal of trust. This case serves as a stark reminder that even those entrusted with the most vulnerable populations are not above the law.