An ex-administrative assistant from an Ocean County engineering firm admitted last week that she stole nearly $179,000 from her former employer, authorities announced Monday.
Dona Carlo-Tanzola, 51, of Manahawkin, took checks made payable to Horn, Tyson & Yoder, deposited them into her personal bank accounts and used the money for herself, according to a release from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. She took the money between May and November 2022, according to an investigation led by the Long Beach Township Police Department.
In an effort to hide her theft, Carlo-Tanzola edited the Long Beach Township’s business’s financial records by deleting paid invoices in client accounts - despite the firm having received payments for services rendered, the office said.
In total, Carlo-Tanzola diverted dozens of checks totaling $178,774.35, investigators said. After being confronted with the theft, Carlo-Tanzola paid some of the money back to the engineering firm.
On Jan. 9, 2023, Carlo-Tanzola was arrested by police and was served with charges that were not revealed by the office.
On July 1, she pleaded guilty to theft. Prosecutors said they would recommend a five-year prison term, as well as the restitution of $139,698.
Stories by Chris Sheldon
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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.