Enfield Woman Admits to Defrauding Mass Mutual of $240,000
A former Enfield woman, Theresa Sutherland, 33, has pleaded guilty to her role in a scheme to defraud Mass Mutual, a financial services company.
According to court documents, Sutherland was employed as a claims examiner at Mass Mutual’s Enfield office and took advantage of the company’s tuition reimbursement and adoption expense benefits. She submitted numerous fraudulent claims, using the birth certificates and Social Security numbers of actual children who were not her own.
Sutherland and her co-conspirators received approximately $240,000 in fraudulent reimbursements during the conspiracy, with Sutherland receiving more than $75,000. The scheme was uncovered by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes members of the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Connecticut State Police, and local police departments.
Sutherland pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive two-year term of imprisonment. Judge Alfred V. Covello has scheduled sentencing for February 11, 2014.
Four other former Mass Mutual employees have been charged in connection with the scheme, with two already pleading guilty and awaiting sentencing. The investigation is ongoing, and Acting U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly reminded the public that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.
Theresa Sutherland, Defendant/Respondent
Exact Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft
City and State: Enfield, Connecticut
Exact Date: Not available (crime date), Sentencing: February 11, 2014
Sentence or Outcome: Prison time (20 years max for wire fraud, 2 years consecutive for identity theft)
Dollar Amounts: $240,000 in fraudulent reimbursements, $75,000 received by Sutherland
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Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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