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

BROOKLYN, NY – Marcia Joseph, 59, of Baldwin, Long Island, received a 21-month federal prison sentence today for systematically pilfering $2,339,700 from a Brooklyn-based non-profit dedicated to providing employment and education services to vulnerable populations. Judge Eric N. Vitaliano handed down the sentence in Brooklyn federal court after Joseph pleaded guilty to wire fraud in January 2024. The court also ordered Joseph to pay $2.3 million in restitution and forfeiture.

The scheme, which spanned nearly 17 years, involved Joseph, a former senior fiscal officer for the unnamed Non-Profit, creating a sham company and funneling funds through fictitious invoices. These invoices falsely described services related to New York City Department of Education programs for students and adults in shelters. Over 500 fabricated bills were submitted, meticulously manipulating the charity’s accounting to conceal the theft. This wasn’t a quick grab; it was a long, cold con.

“By stealing from a charity she was entrusted to serve, the defendant shamefully diverted resources from those in need to line her own pockets,” stated 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. Our Office is committed to protecting non-profit organizations and the communities that rely on them from fraudsters.” The feds aren’t messing around with those who prey on the vulnerable.

The stolen funds weren’t squirreled away in some offshore account. Joseph brazenly used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle. Court filings reveal approximately $235,000 went towards mortgage payments, $207,000 to credit card bills, $98,000 for car payments, $45,000 on Amazon purchases, and a slew of other personal expenses including home remodeling, spa treatments, landscaping, and luxury goods. Nearly two decades of greed fueled by stolen aid money.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia added, “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. 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 emphasized the importance of protecting City funding earmarked for essential services.

The case was handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section, with Assistant United States Attorney Eric Silverberg leading the prosecution. Asset recovery and restitution are being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Claire S. Kedeshian and Daniel Saavedra. Joseph, also known as Marcia James, Marcia Lewis, and Marcia Peters, now faces a reckoning for betraying the trust placed in her and robbing those most in need. The Non-Profit’s name has not been released.

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

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