Bookkeeper Charged With Stealing $673K From Eatontown Business

EATONTOWN, NJ — A Middletown woman was charged with stealing $673,846 from her Eatontown-based employer, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office announced.

Michelle Pulignano, 51, was a bookkeeper for an unnamed manufacturing business. Pulignano gave herself unauthorized salary increases and personal bonuses totalling $223,846, the MCPO said. She also wrote checks to herself from the company's payroll totalling $450,000, according to authorities.

Pulignano was a 30-year employee of the business. The owner told authorities about a suspected employee theft May 1, 2017. The thefts took place between April 1, 2017 and April 17, 2019, the MCPO said.

Pulignano was charged with second-degree theft, the MCPO said. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Long Branch-Eatontown Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com.