Union Co. Law Firm Employee Stole $700K In Estate Funds From Beneficiaries: Police

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A Ringwood woman, who worked at a law firm in Union County was charged after police say she stole $700,000 from estate funds meant for beneficiaries, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel announced.

Colleen Hallenbeck, 54, was charged with one count of first-degree money laundering, two counts of second-degree theft, one count of third-degree theft, and three counts of third-degree forgery.

The investigation, led by Detective Christine Spady of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit, found that between 2018 and 2024 Hallenbeck, who at the time was employed as a paralegal for a Union County-based law firm, misappropriated funds from various estates handled by the firm.

Hallenbeck was responsible for distributing funds from estate accounts to beneficiaries. However, she wrote hundreds of unauthorized checks, totaling more than $700,000, for deposit into accounts she owned or controlled, said authorities.

Hallenbeck surrendered to Union County Prosecutor’s Office Detectives on Dec. 12.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information about this case is urged to contact Detective Spady at 908-527-4567.

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