A woman responsible for managing funds for wards of the state has been indicted for allegedly embezzling $52,000 in public funds, federal prosecutors said.
Heidi Lacerte was indicted on a single count of embezzlement for allegedly taking money from the Office of Public Guardian between February and October 2010, according to prosecutors.
The stolen money was Social Security and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits meant to cover "current medical and fiscal needs" of beneficiaries who were under the public guardian's care, according to the indictment.
The Office of Public Guardian is a nonprofit group established in 1979 to provide advocacy and guardianship for people whose family is unable to serve as a guardian. Part of Lacerte's job as an estate manager required her to manage the finances of individuals who received services from the Office of Public Guardian, prosecutors said. The indictment was filed in U.S. District Court alongside a plea agreement struck with federal prosecutors.
Federal prosecutors said that the funds were kept in an account held by the OPG, so it could be tapped as needed. But around Feb. 23, 2010, Lacerte began pilfering money from the fund by "having checks written to herself drawn against beneficiaries' funds," according to an indictment. Prosecutors say she also purchased gift cards and took cash intended for beneficiary accounts for her own use.
Court documents do not say how Lacerte's alleged theft was discovered. Terms of the plea deal do not reveal what prosecutors may recommend for a sentence, but Lacerte faces up to 10 years in federal prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
The indictment and plea agreement was made public Nov. 8 in U.S. District Court. Lacerte is expected to enter her guilty plea on Nov. 30 before U.S. Judge Steven McAuliffe in federal court.
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Public Guardian Worker Charged With Embezzling
8 comments:
She did this in 2010 and this is 2012--- why did it take so long to catch her?
Who's watching the Public Guardian?
Violation of the public trust should carry a stiffer penalty.
Where there's one there is more, they need to get an investigation on all Public Guardian's. Any job with easy entry into for profit is bound to attract the worst kind of people. In Florida all they need is a GED, no criminal record, a drivers license and a 250 dollar course that they don't have to pass and they are good to go, 45 dollars starting and then upward from there. The attorneys babysit the guardians and they take good care of each other. What did the Judges think would happen with that kind of entry level.
Thelma no one is watching the guardians it's a golden opportunity to steal. I've learned how to be a slick thief by studying numerous guardianship cases isn't that sad? I'll answer the question for anyone who is thinking - will he or won't he? No, no need to be concerned, I won't turn into a thief it's not in my character to lie, falsify court documents, fraudulently bill my ward's estate, and all the other dirty tricks being used by people with criminal minds and no fear of getting caught.
Who's watching the Public Guardian? The answer is nobody. Thank goodness for the Press or we wouldn't know about Heidi Lacerte. And thank you, NASGA, for posting too.
The Public Guardian has too much power and practically no oversight.
This is a perfect example of no oversight. Did she file accountings and if she did, did anyone read them? It's the judge's job to provide oversight to the guardianship system, including the Public Guardian.
The judge holds responsibility here too, in addition to Heidi Lacerte.
How many Heidi Lacerte's are there? Does anyone care? Do the math = cardiac arrest event.
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