Employee charged with stealing almost $100k from law firm
NORWICH – A legal assistant at a Norwich law firm was indicted on eight felony charges last week involving the fraud, forgery and theft of nearly $100,000.
Andrea B. Pertilla allegedly stole about $96,400 from her employer the Vitanza & Distefano law firm, forging her boss' name on checks and then altering paperwork to cover it up.
According to information presented to a Chenango County grand jury by the Chenango County District Attorney's Office, Pertilla stole $88,250 in currency from the business between October 2016 and April 2019. She also allegedly cashed several checks after forging her employer's name on them.
Assistant District Attorney James Snashall said the allegations in the case followed a pattern he has seen before when working in Staten Island and Broom County.
“It's a classic bookkeeper-slash-office assistant betraying the trust of her employer and that employer happens to be a prominent local attorney,” he said.
“These cases tend to involve a bookkeeper or assistant having access and control of financial documents. It involves the owner placing trust in that employee to act accordingly and look out for the business interests, and then that employ betrays that trust,” said Snashall.
Pertilla is charged with second degree grand larceny, a C felony; six counts of second degree forgery, a D felony; and first degree falsifying business records, an E felony.
Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir recused himself from the case, since members of the firm routinely serve defendants in local courts. The case is currently awaiting the assignment of a new judge
The ADA said the business became aware of the issues after Pertilla went on vacation and another worker was attempting to figure out a discrepancy which lead to the discovery of the alleged crimes.
He said she purchased “lots of normal junk,” with the stolen funds.
Snashall cautioned business and charities from trusting their employees in charge of money too much and recommended more than one person review financial information on a regular basis.
“The bookkeeper could be your friend, working for you for years – you should always review your financials,” said Snashall. "If it seems like someone doesn't want you to review something, review it.”
He said Pertilla began stealing within a couple months of first being hired and took funds over several years.
“A lot of people start small and take a little. Then it snowballs and in their own mind it becomes a raise,” he said.
Andrea B. Pertilla allegedly stole about $96,400 from her employer the Vitanza & Distefano law firm, forging her boss' name on checks and then altering paperwork to cover it up.
According to information presented to a Chenango County grand jury by the Chenango County District Attorney's Office, Pertilla stole $88,250 in currency from the business between October 2016 and April 2019. She also allegedly cashed several checks after forging her employer's name on them.
Assistant District Attorney James Snashall said the allegations in the case followed a pattern he has seen before when working in Staten Island and Broom County.
“It's a classic bookkeeper-slash-office assistant betraying the trust of her employer and that employer happens to be a prominent local attorney,” he said.
“These cases tend to involve a bookkeeper or assistant having access and control of financial documents. It involves the owner placing trust in that employee to act accordingly and look out for the business interests, and then that employ betrays that trust,” said Snashall.
Pertilla is charged with second degree grand larceny, a C felony; six counts of second degree forgery, a D felony; and first degree falsifying business records, an E felony.
Chenango County Court Judge Frank Revoir recused himself from the case, since members of the firm routinely serve defendants in local courts. The case is currently awaiting the assignment of a new judge
The ADA said the business became aware of the issues after Pertilla went on vacation and another worker was attempting to figure out a discrepancy which lead to the discovery of the alleged crimes.
He said she purchased “lots of normal junk,” with the stolen funds.
Snashall cautioned business and charities from trusting their employees in charge of money too much and recommended more than one person review financial information on a regular basis.
“The bookkeeper could be your friend, working for you for years – you should always review your financials,” said Snashall. "If it seems like someone doesn't want you to review something, review it.”
He said Pertilla began stealing within a couple months of first being hired and took funds over several years.
“A lot of people start small and take a little. Then it snowballs and in their own mind it becomes a raise,” he said.
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