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Tonawanda Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud
A Tonawanda woman was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a mail fraud scheme that left an elderly veteran financially distraught. Kathy Oertelt, 32, was charged with mail fraud after using an 87-year-old veteran’s signature stamp to issue checks to herself totaling approximately $20,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryEllen Kresse revealed that the defendant used the veteran’s signature stamp without his knowledge or permission. The checks were issued between April and October 2013. Oertelt also obtained blank checks from an account the veteran had at the Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Virginia. She wrote checks to herself on that account totaling approximately $54,000.
The defendant used the embezzled funds to purchase a 2008 Ford Expedition and a 2001 Suzuki SSXR motorcycle and to fund her gambling habit. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Veterans Administration, Office of Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service.
The plea is a culmination of a lengthy investigation that spanned several months. Sentencing is scheduled for July 1, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Oertelt was employed as a health care provider for the veteran, who is 87 and legally blind. The defendant’s actions have left the community shocked and outraged. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding individuals accountable for their crimes.
The U.S. Veterans Administration, Office of Inspector General, led the investigation, with the assistance of the United States Secret Service. The case serves as a reminder that anyone who commits a crime will be held accountable.
Barbara Burns, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is available for comment at (716) 843-5817. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from financial exploitation.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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