Nassau Woman Embezzled Over $200,000 From Long Island Company: DA

The bookkeeper of a Glen Cove business was arrested on Friday and charged with embezzling more than $200,000 from her employer, as well as from two other clients.

Laura Fontana, 62, of Glen Head, was arraigned Friday and cahrged with second-degree grand larceny, two counts of third-degree grand larceny, fice counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and 10 counts of first-degree falsifying business records. She is due back in court on April 18, and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge against her.

“The defendant is accused of systematically stealing more than $200,000 in small sums over a period of six years from her employer and clients,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Small businesses are the backbone of our county and my office will vigorously prosecute because businesses shouldn’t have to worry about employees stealing from the till.”

According to Singas, from 20102 to 2018, Fontana was working as the bookkeper for a Glen Cove-based property management company. Singas said that Fontana wrote checks to herself from nine properties the company managed, endorsing the checks herself and depositing them into her bank account. To hide the theft, Singas said she recorded the checks in the company's books as having been made out to legitimate vendors.

All of the checks were for amounts between $200 and $1,996, Singas said. Over the years, Fontana stole more than $190,000 from the company, according to Singas, as well as nearly $20,000 from two other clients. In total, she stole more than $209,000, Singas said, and spent it on bills, living expenses and childcare.

Singas said that investigation began in July 2018 after a complaint was filed with her office.