Connecticut Woman Admits to Quarter-Million Dollar Theft

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Angela M. Craig, 55, of Windsor, Connecticut, has confessed to systematically robbing her Massachusetts employer of over $250,000. The brazen scheme involved forged checks, a falsified accounting system, and a callous disregard for the company’s financial health.

Craig pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud. The details revealed a calculated operation spanning from July 2012 to May 2014. Craig didn’t just skim a little off the top; she wrote company checks payable to herself, then illegally signed them with her employer’s name. She then cashed or deposited these fraudulent checks, enriching herself while leaving her employer in the lurch.

The deception didn’t stop there. To cover her tracks, Craig manipulated the company’s accounting system, inputting bogus invoices. This allowed her to hide the missing funds and delay payments on legitimate company bills and taxes – a move that likely caused further financial strain on the victimized business. It’s a classic case of betrayal and greed, playing out in the sterile environment of a corporate office.

Federal prosecutors say the wire fraud charge carries a hefty potential penalty: up to 20 years behind bars, a maximum of three years of supervised release following incarceration, and a fine of $250,000. However, as is typical in federal cases, the actual sentence handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni on June 22, 2017, will be determined based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Division, jointly announced the guilty plea. This case serves as a reminder that even seemingly sophisticated financial crimes will be pursued by federal authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, of Weinreb’s Springfield Branch Office, is the lead prosecutor on this case, ensuring Craig is held accountable for her actions.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. The victimized company has not been publicly identified, but sources indicate they are a long-standing business in the Springfield area. The full extent of the financial damage caused by Craig’s actions is still being assessed. This isn’t just about money; it’s about trust broken and the ripple effect of one person’s dishonesty.