Woman Charged with Embezzling Hundreds of Thousands from Her Company

A North Baldwin woman was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stealing more than $600,000 from a Freeport company that installs automatic doors.

Donna Salamanca, 37, (also known as Donna DeJesus) was arraigned Tuesday before District Court Judge Darlene Harris on a charge of grand larceny in the second degree. If convicted, she faces 7-1/2 to 15 years in prison.

“This defendant was entrusted with keeping the company’s books but she allegedly stole more than $600,000 from her employer and used the money to pay for personal expenses,” said District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy and my office will always work to protect them from crime.”

According to Singas, from January 2010, Salamanca worked as the comptroller for Door Automation Corp., a business located in Freeport, and was authorized to pay the company’s bills. Between November 2011 and September 2015, Salamanca allegedly embezzled $612,363.86 from the company by depositing company checks made out to “cash” or “petty cash” into her personal account and by electronically transferring money into various creditors’ accounts for her personal and family debts.

In total, Salamanca allegedly stole $557,580.00 through cash and petty cash disbursements and $54,783.86 in electronic transfers.

Salamanca allegedly indicated in company records that the checks were made to purchase various items for the company and to reimburse other employees for work-related expenses. She allegedly used the money for credit card payments, payments to debt collectors, car insurance, telephone bills, student loans and other expenses.

Salamanca was fired when the Internal Revenue Service placed a lien on the business and her employer discovered that she was making late payments to the IRS or, in some cases, no payments at all.

Picture: District Attorney's office.