Suffolk Woman Embezzled $250K From Summer Camp: DA

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A Commack woman on Wednesday pleaded guilty to embezzling approximately $250K from a local summer camp while employed by it, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.

Melanie I. Bergstedt, 47, pleaded guilty to second-degree grand larceny. She is required to pay restitution, and if she does not, she faces up to three to 15 years in prison, the DA said. She is due back in court for sentencing on May 8.

"This defendant placed her own greed above the welfare of children by stealing money earmarked
for a summer camp and pocketed it for her own personal use," Tierney said. "If you steal from local businesses, you are also harming the Suffolk County community at large. Accordingly, you will be held to account for your actions and legally forced to repay the money you stole."

Bergstedt admitted she knowingly stole money by diverting payments made by customers into other bank accounts while she was employed at a summer camp headquartered in Commack between 2016 and 2020, according to court documents and Bergstedt's guilty plea.

The bank accounts were opened under similar names as the camp without the owner’s knowledge or permission in an effort to hide the theft and to use those funds for her own personal benefit, authorities said.

Bergstedt is being represented by Mary Hartill.