March 12, 12

NEWS / Former Controller Charged with Embezzling from Newton Company

BOSTON—A Natick woman appeared today in federal court on various charges in connection with her theft of more than $197,000 from a Newton video production company for which she served as controller and vice president.

Irina Cholodenko, 45, was charged with three counts of bank fraud, four counts of uttering forged securities, and five counts of wire fraud.

According to the indictment, between 2005 and 2010, Cholodenko forged her employer’s signature on company checks and caused wire transfers, together totaling about $197,651, depositing some of the funds into her personal bank account and using others to pay her credit card bills.

If convicted of the charges, Cholodenko faces up to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud and wire fraud charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 on the forged securities charges.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra S. Bower of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.

http://www.fbi.gov/boston/press-releases/2012/former-controller-charged-with-embezzling-from-newton-company