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U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Eastern District of California 501 I Street, Suite 10-100 Sacremento, CA 95814 (916) 554-2700 Fax (916) 554-2900 |
Vallejo Woman Charged with Embezzling More Than $875,035
Not-for-Profit Organization Victim of Computer FraudUnited States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that JESSICA QUITUGUA SABATHIA, 31, of Vallejo, California was charged with ten counts of fraudulently using her computer to embezzle more than $875,035 from North Bay Health Care Group ("North Bay"). North Bay is a not-for-profit organization which operates hospitals and clinics in Vacaville and Fairfield, California.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Robin R. Taylor, who is prosecuting the fraud, the indictment charges that between July 2001, and April 2004, SABATHIA, an accounts payable clerk, used her computer to access North Bay's accounting software. Without the authority of her employer, SABATHIA issued approximately one hundred and twenty-seven checks payable to herself and others. To conceal the fraud, SABATHIA altered the electronic check register to make it appear that the checks had been payable to North Bay's vendors. SABATHIA cashed several of the checks, and many were deposited into her bank account, and the bank accounts of others, and used for personal expenses.
If convicted, SABATHIA faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for each count of the computer fraud.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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