Former Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzling from Tacoma Charity Thrift Stores

          The former bookkeeper for the St. Vincent de Paul Society Stores of Tacoma, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 45 months in prison and three years of supervised release for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  ANGELA TONEY SAUCIDO, 44, moved from the Tacoma area to Phoenix in 2007, but continued to work for the charity as its bookkeeper through March 2013.  At sentencing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle ordered SAUCIDO to pay more than $543,000 in restitution to St. Vincent de Paul Society.

          “This defendant enriched herself at the expense of those who could afford it least,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  “Because of her conduct, St. Vincent de Paul has had to close a number of its stores and lay off a significant portion of its work force.  Those in our community who are down on their luck have fewer places to turn to get a helping hand.”

          According to records in the case, 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 case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Hampton.