UPDATE: Federal prosecutors have asked to delay the sentencing hearing to February 15th at 10:00 AM in Courtroom 3A at the federal courtroom in Pittsburgh.
WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED
A Blairsville woman who pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $600,000 from the medical practice for which she worked is scheduled to be sentenced today.
Sentencing is scheduled for 10:00 this morning for 63-year-old Sandra Jo Doak for her guilty pleas to mail fraud and filing false income tax returns. She admitted to embezzling $592,833.30 from the medical office of Dr. Matthew Klain, including writing almost $537,000 in unauthorized checks to herself, more than $26,500 in checks to pay for personal expenses, and charging almost $29,500 on the company credit card for other personal expenses. She also concealed the embezzled income from the IRS on her income tax returns between 2014 and 2019, resulting in a tax loss of nearly $124,000. She allegedly used the money for vacations, sports and concert tickets, and payment of personal debt. This included a $14,000 vacation to Disney World.
Charges were originally filed in Indiana County Court, but District Attorney Robert Manzi withdrew the charges and handed the case over to federal prosecutors because state law would only permit prosecution on theft charges. Federal law included the tax evasion and mail fraud charges. A federal sentencing can also allow for restitution for the lost money.
She faces up to 23 years in federal prison and over $750,000 in fines, depending on the seriousness of the offense and any prior criminal history.
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