June 10, 2014 at 10:28 a.m.
Embezzlement charge filed against Arbor Vitae woman
Embezzlement charge filed against Arbor Vitae woman
In a criminal complaint filed Tuesday, Brenda Wigglesworth, 47, was charged with one felony count of theft in a business setting of more than $10,000.
Oneida County Assistant District Attorney Steven Michlig said "a working number" of how much Wigglesworth may have taken is more than $33,000, but he said that number is subject to change.
In part that's because the police report attached to the criminal complaint contains a wide range of alleged financial improprieties, some of which are not included in the $33,000 total and which may not be prosecutable.
One claim, for instance, alleges Wigglesworth opened unauthorized lines of credit totaling more than $196,000. However, Michlig said Tuesday afternoon there is no evidence that any of the money from the lines of credit went directly to Wigglesworth. Rather, he said, "it appears to have gone back into the business."
The criminal complaint states Wigglesworth may have opened the lines of credit "to balance the books."
According to Michlig, the investigation is ongoing but nearing completion as police attempt to sift through years of financial records.
Charges were filed today, he said, because a six-year statute of limitations was on the horizon.
"We have already lost the ability to charge her actions from 2007," Michlig said.
Still, Michlig believes there is a strong case against Wigglesworth.
"I felt there was probable cause based on what I saw in the complaint," he said. "There's clearly $10,000 plus, which gave rise to the charges that we issued."
According to the criminal complaint, in June 2013 an independent accountant hired by the animal hospital reported various bookkeeping irregularities. The accountant claimed that Wigglesworth:
- Did not deposit entire proceeds of hospital earnings;
- Wrote checks and used business credit cards for personal expenses;
- Made loans to herself and other employees;
- Did not bill certain customers;
- Padded contributions to her and other employees' retirement accounts;
- Excessively reimbursed health care costs;
- Abused pay for vacation and personal days.
The complaint goes on to claim that a police investigation verified at least some of these findings.
In May 2013, the month after her employment was terminated, Wigglesworth allegedly wrote a check to the hospital's owners for what she described as "what I owe the clinic."
Wigglesworth had worked at the animal hospital since 1999.
Police arrested her on Monday.
This afternoon, Wigglesworth appeared at an arraignment by video from the county jail, though she could be released today on a $15,000 signature bond. Her mother sat in during the hearing.
Wigglesworth has no criminal record and is working three jobs, her attorney, Lindsay Erickson, said.
Erickson declined comment after the hearing, saying she had just been retained.
If convicted, Wigglesworth could be fined up to $25,000 and jailed up to 10 years.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 3.
Jonathan Anderson may be reached at [email protected]
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