HARTFORD, CT – Maria Higgins, 36, of Manchester, Connecticut, is staring down the barrel of a potential ten-year prison sentence after pleading guilty today to a brazen pair of embezzlement schemes that bilked two employers out of nearly a million dollars. U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan and IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Demeo announced Higgins waived indictment and entered her plea before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver.
The scheme began in mid-2018 when Higgins landed a job as a bookkeeper for New England Kitchen & Bath LLC in Glastonbury. Over four years, she systematically siphoned $504,807 from the company using a variety of deceptive tactics. Court documents reveal Higgins issued company checks made out to herself, cleverly disguising them with memos like “commission” or “bonus.” She even employed a signature handstamp of the owner to authorize the fraudulent payments. Beyond checks, she initiated unauthorized wire transfers, created a phantom supplier to invoice for nonexistent expenses, and brazenly used company debit cards for personal purchases. Higgins also orchestrated a scheme where she’d oversee legitimate construction projects, bill the company for costs, and then have the client pay her directly – pocketing the difference.
But Higgins wasn’t finished. In February 2023, she jumped ship to PVC Solutions, Inc. in Danbury, taking on the role of accounting manager. Within a year, she’d begun a remarkably similar pattern of theft, this time relieving the PVC manufacturer of $356,181. The methods were almost a carbon copy: company checks to herself, duplicate vendor templates for wire transfers to her personal accounts, fictitious suppliers, and direct payment of personal expenses through the company’s funds. Crucially, Higgins meticulously manipulated accounting records to cover her tracks, attempting to hide the flow of stolen funds.
The IRS wasn’t fooled. Investigators discovered Higgins failed to report approximately $768,650 of her ill-gotten gains on her federal income tax returns between 2018 and 2023, resulting in a staggering $167,831 loss to the government. This tax evasion charge adds another five years to her potential sentence. The IRS Criminal Investigation division led the investigation, painstakingly untangling the web of fraudulent transactions and tracing the stolen money.
Higgins pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen money and one count of tax evasion. Judge Oliver has scheduled sentencing for December 2nd. While awaiting that date, Higgins remains free on a $50,000 bond. As part of her plea agreement, Higgins has committed to full restitution to both New England Kitchen & Bath, PVC Solutions, Inc., and the IRS – though whether she’ll actually be able to repay the full amount remains to be seen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser is prosecuting the case, vowing to hold accountable those who exploit their positions of trust for personal gain. This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly complex financial crimes will be pursued relentlessly, and the consequences can be severe. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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