Property Manager Sentenced for Embezzlement

NEW BERN—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today Chief United States District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced ALISHA BITTLE, 45, of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to 35 months’ imprisonment followed by three years’ supervised release. The court also imposed restitution in the amount of $861,819.42.

A criminal information was filed on March 3, 2010 charging BITTLE with one count of fraudulent use of access devices. On April 1, 2010, she pled guilty to the charge.

According to statements presented at the hearing, since August, 2000, BITTLE worked as the Property Manager of Buck Island Homeowner’s Association in Corolla, North Carolina. Her responsibilities included collecting homeowners’ dues, compiling financial reports, overseeing the complex grounds, and ordering lawn and pool supplies. Starting in December, 2003, BITTLE issued checks to herself or to businesses for personal expenses, used the business credit card for personal purchases, and withdrew money directly from the business account for personal use. After BITTLE admitted to the embezzlement, an audit was performed in which it was discovered that a loss totaling $861,819.42 in fraudulent transactions had occurred from 2003 until 2008. The embezzled money consisted primarily of Association dues and assessments collected from nearly 100 Buck Island homeowners as well as other monies that had been set aside by individual property owners for the ongoing maintenance and repair of their homes.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne Watford-McKinney represented the government.