Woman Embezzled More Than $850,000: Avon Police

AVON, CT — A Winsted woman has been arrested in connection with the embezzlement of more than $850,000 from the Avon-based financial and personal management business for which she worked.

The Avon Police Department conducted an extensive investigation into embezzlement of money from several bank accounts, leading to the arrest of Sheila Grochowski, 70. Grochowski worked for Barbara H. Hance Associates, Inc., a firm which focuses predominantly on elderly clients, from 2010 to 2016 and had access to Hance’s client bank accounts, police said.

In conjunction with the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, the Avon Police Department identified 25 separate victims whose bank accounts were fraudulently accessed by Grochowski during those years. Several of these victims are “conserved” persons with cases in various courts of probate in Connecticut, police said.

Grochowski is charged with one count of first-degree larceny for the thefts, which totaled over $850,000, and 19 counts of second-degree forgery. She is being held on a $750,000 surety bond, and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Hartford Superior Court.

For further questions or concerns, contact the Avon Police Department at 860-409-4200.

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