A woman who managed money for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York was arrested Wednesday, accused of stealing more than $300,000 from the organization to buy herself groceries, Metro-North railroad tickets, a gym memberhip and a $13,000 diamond ring, among other luxury purchases.
The prosecutor's office said Yaasmin Hooey, 35, began stealing in September 2008 from the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, where she worked as director of finance. She wrote 65 checks to herself totaling $275,979, forged the signature of GSCGNY's then-CEO, and either cashed them or deposited them into her personal checking account.
Hooey also issued nine unauthorized wire transfers totaling $35,606 from two GSCGNY bank accounts into her own personal checking account.
According to court documents, Hooey used the money to pay for everyday expenses such as groceries, Metro-North Railroad tickets, a gym membership and clothing.
She also paid for cosmetic laser procedures, cruises, travel and concert tickets, and spent more than $18,000 in restaurants and bars, according to the documents.
Hooey also bought a $13,000 diamond ring, the prosecutor's office.
Hooey is charged as well with failing to file her state personal income tax returns for 2008 and 2009, and of intentionally failing to include the $142,077 she stole in 2010.
"The defendant's charged crimes not only violated the trust of the Girl Scout organization, but the trust of the girls that the organization serves," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said in a statement. "The District Attorney's Office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes against nonprofit organizations."
Hooey was charged Tuesday with grand larceny, forgery, criminal possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records, and criminal tax fraud.
It was not immediately clear whether Hooey had an attorney.
No comments:
Post a Comment