Newark Woman Sentenced to 4 Years Imprisonment for Embezzlement Scheme
A 67-year-old woman from Newark, Delaware, has been sentenced to 4 years imprisonment for her role in a brazen and long-running embezzlement scheme. Roberta Czap, formerly of Newark, was sentenced on November 13, 2017, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Leonard P. Stark to 48 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. In addition, she will be required to forfeit more than $1 million in assets that represent the proceeds of her crimes.
According to authorities, Czap, while employed as the Vice President of Accounting at a financial services company in Newark, made 497 separate fraudulent ACH transactions from the company’s accounts into her personal bank accounts. These transactions, ranging from $1,000 to $38,527, were disguised as payments to corporate health insurance payments or payments to corporate marketers and altered the company’s general ledger to further conceal her actions.
In total, Czap obtained more than $6.1 million through her fraud. Following the misappropriation of funds from the corporation, Czap converted these electronic transfers to cash, through either ATM withdrawals or cash advances at several casinos. Her husband, Matthew Czap, was also involved in the scheme and made a series of structured cash deposits totaling $1,212,910, in increments approaching, but of less than $10,000.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley Wolf. Acting U.S. Attorney Weiss thanked the investigators for their excellent work in pursuing this investigation and for identifying assets acquired through Czap’s fraud. The government anticipates that these assets will be provided as partial restitution to the victims.
The sentencing came after Czap pleaded guilty on June 1, 2017, to one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of making false statements on tax returns. Czap’s 4-year prison sentence should serve as a warning to others contemplating similar crimes that such conduct will eventually catch up with you and you will be held accountable.
Defendant: Roberta Czap
Criminal Charges: Wire fraud, money laundering, making false statements on tax returns
City and State: Newark, Delaware
Exact Date: June 1, 2017 (plea), November 13, 2017 (sentencing)
Sentence: 48 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, forfeiture of more than $1 million in assets
Dollar Amounts: Over $6.1 million obtained through the embezzlement scheme, $1 million in assets to be forfeited, $1,212,910 in structured cash deposits by Matthew Czap
Key Facts
- State: Delaware
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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