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Fraud

U.S. District Judge Sentences Couple to Combined 92 Months in Prison for Decades-Long Embezzlement Scheme

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Robin Joseph, 64, to 39 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, six months of which will be home detention, for his role in a decades-long embezzlement scheme that caused losses of more than $1.4 million. The scheme, which spanned from 2003 to August 2021, was carried out by Joseph and his wife, Valerie Joseph, who was previously sentenced to 53 months in prison and one year of home detention for her role in the scheme. The couple conspired to defraud their employer and used credit cards associated with their victims to make numerous unauthorized purchases, including charges for personal expenses, airline tickets, cruises, and retail purchases.

Key Takeaways:

  • The embezzlement scheme carried out by Robin and Valerie Joseph spanned from 2003 to August 2021, resulting in losses of more than $1.4 million.
  • The couple used credit cards associated with their victims to make numerous unauthorized purchases, including charges for personal expenses, airline tickets, cruises, and retail purchases.
  • The theft included unauthorized credit-card charges for $200,000-plus at Walmart; $53,000-plus to AT&T for personal phone bills; $30,000-plus at a Japanese steak and seafood restaurant; and $116,000-plus to PayPal.
  • The couple also charged more than $90,000 to Easton Utilities for utility bills; $16,000 to Chesapeake College for tuition payments; $2,500 to the University of Hawaii for college expenses; and $3,800 for cosmetics.
  • The couple used the victims' account to pay for personal expenses, including airline tickets, cruises, and veterinary expenses, as well as financially supporting their pets.
  • U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Riley for prosecuting the federal case.
  • Judge Gallagher ordered restitution in the amount of $1,406,211.19.
  • Valerie Joseph, 61, was previously sentenced to 53 months in prison and one year of home detention for her role in the scheme.
  • Robin Joseph, 64, was sentenced to 39 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, six months of which will be home detention.

Statistics:

  • The embezzlement scheme resulted in losses of more than $1,406,211.19.
  • The couple used credit cards to make unauthorized purchases totaling over $1.9 million.
  • The theft included unauthorized credit-card charges for:

+ $200,000-plus at Walmart

+ $53,000-plus to AT&T for personal phone bills

+ $30,000-plus at a Japanese steak and seafood restaurant

+ $116,000-plus to PayPal

  • The couple charged more than $195,000 to the Lowes Account.
  • The couple used the victims' account to pay for personal expenses, including airline tickets, cruises, and veterinary expenses.

Sources:

  • United States Department of Justice
  • United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland
  • FBI - Baltimore Field Office

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