Southington Bookkeeper Facing 30 Years In Embezzlement Case

SOUTHINGTON, CT —A Southington woman has entered a plea in a six-figure embezzlement case, a leading prosecutor said.

John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, said that Lydia Cabrera, 36, of Southington, entered a guilty plea Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to one count of bank fraud related to an embezzlement scheme.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately August 2016 to August 2018, Cabrera was employed by A2Z Home Medical Supplies as a bookkeeper. As part of her job responsibilities, Cabrera was given access to A2Z’s online merchant payment system, case records show.

About 10 days after being hired by A2Z, Cabrera began to use A2Z’s online merchant payment system to steal from the company by falsely representing that customers of A2Z had sought a return of their funds, Durham said. On more than 200 occasions, Cabrera input her personal debit card information as the card to which the funds should be returned, according to case records.

Through the scheme, Cabrera embezzled approximately $370,000, Durham said.

Cabrera was arrested on March 1.

Judge Meyer scheduled for sentencing for Feb. 11, 2020, at which time Cabrera faces a maximum prison term of 30 years.

Following Wednesday's court proceeding, Cabrera, who had been detained since her arrest, was released on bond, pending sentencing Durham said.