Embezzlement 101: A Question of When

The more trust you place in someone, the more you leave the door open for fraud. "They were like a member of my own family" is the phrase you hear from many business owners after the crime is uncovered.

There has been embezzlement in our village in past few years - Camden, Sussex, and Dover Associations.

Prevention: Watch that there are at least two signatures on checks, but money transfers are also vulnerable,

See this example of a shell game with accounts:

Agents of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit arrested 60-year-old Bruce David Sonnenberg after the issuance of an arrest warrant for Money Laundering, Scheming to Defraud, Grand Theft and five counts of Unemployment Compensation Fraud.

Initiated when information was received from the President of the Marsh Harbor Homeowner’s Association, who suspected that the Treasurer, Bruce Sonnenberg, had been mishandling the HOA account and possibly stealing funds.

The ensuing investigation determined Sonnenberg had been stealing funds ($22,000) from the Marsh Harbor HOA account. Sonnenberg moved the stolen money through several different accounts, involving different banking institutions in an attempt to conceal the unlawful activity. The money was traced through Sonnenberg’s personal checking accounts and companies that he owned, including Start Car Company, Son Coast Car Wash and Son Coast Hospitality.

“This type of case is exactly what our newly created Economic Crimes Unit was designed for. Our team works daily to make sure that anyone who targets our citizens with fraud or theft goes straight to jail with every charge possible,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey.