Solon Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $156,949

SOLON, OH — A Solon woman has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for embezzling $156,000, the Department of Justice announced this week. The money was embezzled from a fund meant to benefit someone in the woman's care.

Teresita Sidoti, 52, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. She was also ordered to pay $156,949 to the victim's family, and $27,797 to the Internal Revenue Service. She pleaded guilty earlier this year to bank fraud and filing false tax returns, the DOJ said.

Sidoti was a caregiver for Noel Zugay, and was the trustee of the Noel Zugay Supplemental Needs Trust. For six years, from 2009 to 2015, Sidoti defrauded the trust of funds held at Huntington Bank for Zugay's benefit.

The embezzled money was used for Sidoti's own gain. She also diverted deposits that should have been to the trust, the DOJ said.

In total, Sidoti embezzled about $156,949, according to information from the DOJ. She also failed to claim some of this income on her tax returns between 2011 and 2014.

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