Ardsley Woman Sentenced for Stealing $700K+ from Pelham Country Club

ARDSLEY, NY — The former Pelham Country Club controller was sentenced Friday for embezzling more than $700,000.

Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr said Gretchen Wauchope will go to state prison for two-and-one-third to seven years after pleading guilty of one count of second-degree grand larceny and two counts of fourth-degree criminal tax fraud, all felonies.

Scarpino said from Jan. 1, 2010, through Feb. 28, 2015, Wauchope, who was the Controller of the Pelham Country Club in Pelham Manor, systematically embezzled funds.

She drew and negotiated checks from the bank account of Pelham Country Club to her own personal bank accounts and initiated electronic payments from the club accounts to pay personal credit card debts. Those embezzled funds were used to pay for luxury items such as a $100,000 recreational vehicle, regular high-end salon visits, luxury automobiles and rent on a private home that exceeded $4,000 month.

The total amount stolen in the larceny was $719,270.20.

In addition, the defendant failed to pay state income tax on the monies that she stole from the Country Club. The amount she owes in tax is $45,486, Scarpino said.

The larceny was discovered following an internal investigation by Pelham Country Club who then referred the matter to the District Attorney’s Office.

Wauchope was remanded to the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections.

She is also required, under restitution judgment orders, to repay $719,270.20 for the larceny and $45,486 in New York State taxes.

Photo caption: Gretchen Wauchope. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney.