WHITE PLAINS, NY –Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced today that Gretchen Wauchope (DOB 12/31/69) of 15 Kensington Road, Ardsley, New York, was arraigned on a three count Complaint charging her with:
•one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,
•two counts of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fourth Degree, class “E” Felonies.
“As alleged in the Complaint, this defendant took advantage of her position, as well as her employer’s trust, to divert more than a $335,000 dollars in unauthorized withdrawals to her own accounts. Once again, this case, like so many others involving breaches of trust by an employee and having taken place over a long period of time, demonstrates the importance of conducting proper due diligence, especially overseeing employees who have access to finances,” said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.
From January 1, 2010 through February 28, 2015 the defendant, who was the controller of the Pelham Country Club in Pelham Manor, New York, systematically embezzled funds for over five years. She drew and negotiated checks from the bank account of Pelham Country Club payable to herself and other third persons and initiated electronic payments from the Pelham Country Club’s bank account to pay personal credit card debts.
The aggregate amount stolen in the larceny is approximately $335,000.
In addition, the defendant failed to pay New York State Income Tax on the monies that she stole from the Country Club including the time period from October 15, 2011, where the defendant failed to file a New York State tax return for tax year 2010 and on October 15, 2013, where the defendant failed to file a New York State tax return for tax year 2012.
The larceny was discovered following an internal investigation by Pelham Country Club who then referred the matter of the District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators from the District Attorney’s office arrested the defendant yesterday and she was arraigned in the Village of Pelham Justice Court.
Bail was set at $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond.
The defendant’s next appearance will be on August 13th, 2015.
The defendant faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Mayes of the Economic Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case.
