Union County Woman Admits Stealing $350K From Synagogue

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — A Scotch Plains woman admitted to her role in embezzling more than around $350,000 from a Union County synagogue, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced on Thursday.

Stacy Margaritondo, 52, of Scotch Plains, pleaded guilty before Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging her with wire fraud.

In 2010, Margaritondo began working at the synagogue located in Union County and was promoted to office manager and bookkeeper in July 2020.

"From December 2019 through May 2023, Margaritondo abused this position of trust by engaging in a fraudulent scheme to misappropriate around $350,000 from the synagogue’s accounts," said Giordano.

As part of the scheme, Margaritondo would write herself checks from the synagogue’s bank accounts; used unauthorized additional funds to conceal the embezzlement scheme by fraudulently using the synagogue’s name, bank statements, and balance sheet to obtain short-term financing from at least three cash advance companies; and intentionally kept inaccurate accounting records and altered bank statements that she provided to the board of directors to conceal her scheme, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

Margaritondo faces a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 22.

Giordano thanked special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, and the Scotch Plains Police Department, under the direction of Chief Jeffrey J. Briel, for their help.

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