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Press Release

Former Bookkeeper Indicted for Embezzling from Tacoma Charity Thrift Stores

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington
Allegedly Used Account Access And Other Employee Identities To Steal More Than $500,000

            The former bookkeeper for the St. Vincent de Paul Society Stores of Tacoma, Washington, was arrested yesterday afternoon on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury charging her with multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  ANGELA TONEY SAUCIDO, 44, was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona.  SAUCIDO moved from the Tacoma area to Phoenix in 2007, but continued to work for the charity as its bookkeeper.  The indictment alleges the embezzlement began at least in 2006 and continued throughJuly 2013.  SAUCIDO will make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Arizona today, with future court appearances in Tacoma.

            According to the indictment the embezzlement scheme involved a variety of frauds.  SAUCIDO would transfer funds from the St. Vincent de Paul Society Stores bank accounts to her own bank accounts and falsify entries making it appear the transfers were for legitimate purposes.  SAUCIDO forged signatures on checks and made electronic fund transfers to benefit her and her family.  SAUCIDO made purchases for her personal use on the St. Vincent de Paul Society Stores Home Depot credit account, and then used the charity’s funds to pay for the purchases.  Finally, SAUCIDO used the identities of other employees to make it appear they had received additional pay when in fact she had deposited the money into bank accounts she and her husband controlled.

            The indictment charges seven counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.  Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Aggravated Identity Theft is punishable by a mandatory two years of prison that must follow any term imposed on the wire fraud counts.

            The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton.

Updated March 20, 2015