Ex-Bookkeeper Gets 2 Years in $567K Theft from Law Firm
After pleading guilty earlier this year to embezzling over half a million dollars from a Virginia personal injury firm and apologizing in a sentencing hearing today, a former bookkeeper has been sentenced to two years in prison by a federal court in Norfolk.
Diana L. Former-Forston, 54, must also pay $567,075.16 in restitution to Bennett and Zydron, reports the Virginian-Pilot.
She reportedly forged a partner’s signature on more than 200 law firm checks, then created fictitious bookkeeping entries to make it appear that the checks, which went into her own bank accounts, had paid legitimate law firm expenses.
Officials said Former-Forston loaned $300,000 to a co-worker who claimed, falsely, that she needed funds to pay for cancer treatment. The unidentified colleague was not charged because prosecutors did not feel they could prove a case against her concerning funds that had already been stolen, the newspaper explains.
Hat tip: WAVY.
Additional and related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Law Firm Bookkeeper Accused of Embezzling $567K, Allegedly Put 210 Forged Checks Into Own Account”
ABAJournal.com: “Ex-Employee Accused of Stealing $155K from Salt Lake City’s Richards Brandt Miller Nelson”
