$1.2M Stolen From Business By Southern Ocean Bookkeeper: DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — A Tuckerton woman was charged with multiple felonies for the theft of more than $1.2 million from the Pennsylvania business where she worked as a financial officer and used it for her own personal expenses, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Bridgeport Borough Police Chief Todd J. Bereda said.

Linda Mansi, 53, worked for Arnold's Office Furniture and Sunline Supply Company, headquartered in Bridgeport, PA since 2015, holding multiple roles from bookkeeper to her most recent role of vice president of finance and human resources, officials said.

In each position, Mansi was responsible for the accounts payable/receivable, credit/debit cards, payroll and other financial activities, including managing the QuickBooks financial accounting software, officials said.

The business's owners, Jay and Jordan Berkowitz, contacted local police this past February after they had become aware of personal payments to Mansi totaling more than $1 million from an account where she was the only person with access and oversight, officials said.

When authorities launched an investigation, they found that from Jan. 2016 to Feb. 2023 when Mansi was fired, she made unauthorized purchases and cash withdrawals from company accounts totaling $1,271,315.72, which she used for herself and for family members, officials said.

The individual thefts ranged from a few dollars to thousands, authorities said. These included payments for routine household expenses as well as expenditures for her son's prison commissary, legal costs and phone accounts; online gambling sites including Fanduel; travel expenses such as airline tickets, hotels and rental cars, including a trip to Miami for her son's 21st birthday; tickets for sporting events including Phillies season tickets as well as concert tickets through StubHub and Ticketmaster; doctor and medical expenses for herself and family members; and jewelry stores, Coach, Etsy and other online shopping sites, according to authorities.

Mansi also made 388 ATM and bank withdrawals totaling $146,957.16, made 560 payments to family and friends via Paypal, and overpaid her salary by $19,000 in 2022 through false payroll submissions, officials said.

“A local Montgomery County business now faces significant financial hardship because of someone who preyed upon the company owners' trust. Sadly, this situation is not completely uncommon,” said Steele. “This case is a reminder that businesses and non- profit organizations need to have checks and balances on any individual who handles the company's finances. It’s the only way to assure the safety of the business or organization's money.”

Mansi is charged with multiple felony counts of theft by unlawful taking, theft by deception, theft by failing to make required dispositions, receiving stolen property, forgery, criminal use of a communications facility and other related charges, authorities said.

She turned herself into police on July 27 and a preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 9.