Police: Woman Accused of Embezzling More Than $400K in DSS Funds from Enfield-Based Agency

COVENTRY, CT — A former Coventry resident has been charged after a lengthly investigation into missing funds entrusted to an East Windsor agency by the State Department of Social Services.

Michelle Labrec, 52, of Ronkonkoma NY, was arrested by the Coventry Police Department on Wednesday after a 10-month investigation into the embezzlement of funds from the Allied Community Resources East Windsor office, Police Chief Mark Palmer said.

The agency, based in Enfield, has been providing services for those with developmental disabilities, physical handicaps and acquired brain injuries since the 1960s.

Police said Labrec lived in Coventry at the time the crimes were committed. She was the former manager of accounts payable at the office, police said.

Police said it was determined that Labrec had embezzled more than $400,000 in funds that had been allocated to Allied by the DSS.

Officer Brian Flanagan of the Coventry Police Department conducted an extensive investigation that uncovered the scheme as to how the money was embezzled, police said.

Labrec was charged with first-degree larceny, first-degree identity theft and 114 counts of second-degree forgery police said.

She was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Oct. 6.

The case was referred to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services for further investigation, police said.

Photo credit: Chris Dehnel