Former CFO of Willimantic Non-Profit Admits Embezzling More Than $348,000

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that William Lavimoniere, 51, of Plainfield, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before United States Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford to one count of wire fraud, one count of failure to file a tax return, and one count of aiding or assisting in the filing of a false tax return. The charges stem from Lavimoniere’s embezzlement of more than $348,000 from Project Genesis Inc., a non-profit corporation that serves Connecticut adults and students who have disabilities.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately April 2008 through November 2011, Lavimoniere was employed at Project Genesis Inc. in Willimantic as its Chief Financial Officer. From approximately June 2008 to September 2011, Lavimoniere embezzled $348,160.88 in corporate funds by using Project Genesis’ internal accounting software to keep certain terminated employees on the payroll after their official date of termination. He would then transfer the terminated employee’s salary to one of three of his personal bank accounts. Lavimoniere also disguised electronic funds transfers to his personal bank accounts as payments to the United States Treasury or to various vendors. Lavimoniere used the embezzled funds to pay for his living, travel, entertainment, and home improvement expenses.

According to the Internal Revenue Service, Lavimoniere did not file any tax returns while he was employed at Project Genesis Inc. Lavimoniere’s combined taxable income for the years 2008 to 2010 was $946,943.94, which includes his legitimate income from Project Genesis Inc, the embezzled income, and income from a separate business he owned and operated. As a result of not filing a tax return for those years, Lavimoniere owes $295,693 in back taxes, interest, and penalties.

In order to cover up the vast sums money that he embezzled from Project Genesis Inc., Lavimoniere reclassified some of the embezzled funds as expenses on the annual informational Form 990s that Project Genesis Inc. filed with the IRS.

Lavimoniere is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Robert N. Chatigny on August 1, 2012, at which time Lavimoniere faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 24 years and a fine of up to approximately $700,000. Lavimoniere also will be ordered to pay full restitution to Project Genesis Inc. and the IRS

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael W. Ahearn.