White Collar Crime News

2 ex-workers charged with embezzling $500,000 from Lakewood company February 19, 2011

Two former employees of a Lakewood company have been charged by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office with stealing funds from their employer.  Arrested Tuesday were Mildred L. Hahn, 62, of Florida Court in Brick, and James R. Distasio, 32, of Halliard Avenue in Beachwood. The two had worked at Mon-Oc Mechanical Inc. Avenue in Lakewood. 
Hahn is accused of embezzling in excess of $500,000 from the company between 2003 and 2009, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office.

Hahn was in charge of the firm’s bookkeeping duties, including processing payroll checks to employees. Employed with the company for 33 years, she also oversaw company bank deposits for all its business accounts and paid all company bills.  The investigation began after company officials filed a theft complaint with Lakewood police.  A complaint against Hahn also charges her with writing unauthorized company checks to herself.

Hahn was arrested at home and charged with theft, computer criminal activity as computers and the computer database were used in the alleged theft and fraudulent use of a stolen credit card.  Distasio was arrested and charged with theft of company funds, according to the complaint warrant.  Distasio, a general foreman at Mon-Oc Mechanical for approximately 12 years, is accused of partnering with Hahn to steal approximately $130,000 of company funds which were diverted to Distasio by company checks made out to him and authorized by Hahn.

Story is here.