A former Kearny medical office receptionist admitted in federal court today that she embezzled a whopping $446,000 from an unnamed facility between 2007 and 2011, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Gwendolyn Muller, 53, formerly of Kearny, pleaded guilty to a charges of one count each of embezzlement, credit card fraud and tax evasion before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini, officials said.
According to court documents, Muller used her position at the medical office to take, cash, and conceal over $446,000 in checks paid by insurance companies to the medical practice for patient visits and treatment.
Also between 2007 and 2011, Muller fraudulently obtained 10 credit cards in the name of the principal of the medical practice and used those cards to rack up a hefty $218,000 bill for personal goods and services and some of the bill was paid with embezzled money, court documents show.
Additionally, Muller admitted that she filed a false tax return to avoid disclosing her illegally obtained income.
The embezzlement and credit card charges come with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, while the tax count carries a possible maximum prison sentence of five years.
All three counts are also punishable by a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross loss or gain caused by the offense, authorities said.
Muller will be sentenced on February 19 of next year and will forfeit $556,000 as part of her plea agreement.
[…] years in jail today after pleading guilty to embezzling over $446,000 from her former employer back in October, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman […]