Monroeton Woman Sentenced for Embezzling Money from Martha Lloyd Community Services
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 27, 2013 |
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joanne Beers, age 58, of Monroeton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner to a two-year term of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Beers was also ordered to pay $96,185.68 in restitution.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Beers worked as a program specialist supervisor for the Martha Lloyd Community Services Facility, a non-profit health care provider in Troy, Pennsylvania. Martha Lloyd provides facilities, programs, and services in Bradford and Tioga Counties for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The facility receives funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Medicaid program. Beers was responsible for overseeing a program that housed 18 female residents.
Without the knowledge, authorization, and approval of her employer, Beers used four Martha Lloyd credit card accounts to purchase merchandise and services for her personal use and benefit, including hair care services at a salon, video game equipment, clothing, gift cards, food, and household goods for herself and her family; and furniture, a television, and DVD player for her residence.
Beers stole cash from Martha Lloyd accounts and submitted false purchase orders and receipts to support other petty cash and credit card account expenditures used for her personal expenses.
Beers also transacted paychecks for developmentally and intellectually disabled residents of the facility under her supervision and used the cash to purchase gasoline, cigarettes, and other items for her own personal use and benefit.
Beers was charged and pleaded guilty in August 2012.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel.