Former bookkeeper gets probation, restitution order in Groton embezzlement case
The owner of Precision Motors in Mystic told a New London judge Wednesday that she was heartbroken when she learned that her bookkeeper, Lynne W. Lee, had been embezzling money from the company.
"I just wanted to say that Lynne and I were friends," Vickie LaFrance said.
LaFrance said she wouldn't have known that Lee was stealing money if Lee's other employer had not called to say that Lee was using a company credit card for groceries and other expenses. An investigation revealed that Lee had stolen more than $23,000 from Precious Motors between September 2015 and August 2016.
Lee, 57, pleaded guilty to third-degree larceny and received a suspended prison sentence, three years of probation and an order to repay the company $1,680 over the next 18 months. The company's insurance company had reimbursed Precious motors for the remainder of the loss.
"I'm sure the breach of trust hurt more than anything," Judge Hillary B. Strackbein told LaFrance. "I'm glad insurance covered most of this."
LaFrance had called Groton Town Police in August 2016 after discovering that the gross profit for cash and personal checks did not match bank deposits. She said she confronted Lee, who admitted she had been taking $100 or $200 a day in cash after counting the money and would subtract the amount when filling out a bank deposit slip.
In a statement to Groton Town Police, Lee said she used the money for medication for her husband, who was terminally ill with cancer, and for other expenses. The total amount taken was $23,726.90.
Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Lawrence J. Tytla and attorney M. Fred DeCaprio from the public defender's office had worked out a plea agreement that is expected to enable Lee to resolve additional pending charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and evading responsibility after completing an alcohol education program.
"This was a violation of trust," Tytla said. "This was obviously a victim who cared about the defendant and was helping her."
LaFrance told the court she didn't think jail would have helped Lee and that the alcohol education program might help more than anything.
Her lawyer said Lee has no prior criminal record.
"She really has gone through a lot and is pretty remorseful," DeCaprio said.
Lee chose not to address the court.
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