Weymouth Woman Swindles Employer $701,826
Boston, MA – A brazen scheme to swindle nearly $700,000 from her employer has landed a Weymouth woman behind bars. Katelin Garland, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in U.S. District Court in Boston.
Garland, who served as an administrative manager, exploited flaws in her company’s accounting and auditing systems to embezzle the funds between October 2011 and October 2015. She requested checks payable to fictitious names, which she then endorsed for deposit to a bank account she controlled. To conceal her scheme, Garland made false entries in her employer’s record-keeping system.
Garland used the stolen funds to cover routine living expenses, purchase tickets to sporting events, pay for private school tuition for her children, and buy a boat, travel, and shop. The scope of her spending spree is a stark reminder of the ease with which white-collar crimes can be committed.
The charging statute against Garland provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution. However, actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Balthazard of U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case, with the support of Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Garland is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2017.
The case serves as a harsh reminder of the importance of vigilant financial oversight and the dangers posed by individuals who abuse their positions of trust. As this newspaper continues to expose the depths of corruption and financial malfeasance in our community, we remain committed to holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.
The investigation and prosecution of this case were a collaborative effort between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Their dedication to uncovering the truth and bringing justice to victims of white-collar crime is a testament to their unwavering commitment to public service.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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