DA: Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing from Jewish National Fund

A Westbury woman pleaded guilty this week to stealing an identity and taking thousands from a Long Island-based Jewish charity, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Marie Augustin, 42, pleaded guilty to third-degree grand larceny and first-degree identity theft before Judge David Sullivan, said the DA.

The DA expects two consecutive nine-month sentences, a $180,577.48 civil judgment to the Jewish National Fund, and $400 in reparations to the identity theft victim.

In February, Augustin allegedly used a Suffolk County resident’s name to get a fake driver’s license and opened several business bank accounts under the names of vendors for the Rockville Centre-based Jewish National Fund.

Nassau’s Crimes Against Property officials were flagged when Augustin deposited a check stolen from Jewish National Fund for $71,239.24 and then tried to withdraw from the account, said the DA.

Augustin also deposited two other stolen checks for $79,338.24 and $30,000 into other fake accounts, said the DA.

The victim of the identity theft had numerous unauthorized transactions under her bank account as well. Augustin claimed she had lost her debit card and presented the fake driver’s license to get a new one under the victim’s name, said the DA. About $5,100 in withdrawals were made using the new debit card, officials said.

The identity theft victim was not affiliated with Jewish National Fund, said the DA.

Rockville Centre Police and the U.S. Postal Service also aided in the investigation.

Augustin is due to be sentenced Sept. 29.

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