United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

SOUTHBURY WOMAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR STEALING $816,129 FROM EMPLOYER

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LESLIE TAVOLACCI, 56, of Grasslands Road, Southbury, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 27 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling more than $800,000 from her former employer.  On April 3, 2008, TAVOLACCI pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of income tax evasion stemming from the scheme.

According to documents filed with the Court and statements made in court. TAVOLACCI was a part-time employee of RZM Imports, Inc. of  Southbury.  As part of her duties, TAVOLACCI opened and sorted incoming mail, and then deposited checks received by RZM Imports, Inc. from customers into RZM’s bank account.  TAVOLACCI has admitted that she unlawfully took a large number of checks payable to RZM Imports, Inc. and deposited them into other checking accounts she had opened under the RZM Imports Inc. name.  She then withdrew the money from these accounts, usually using bank debit cards, and used the funds for her own use and enrichment.  Through this scheme, TAVOLACCI embezzled approximately $816,129 between 1997 and 2004.

TAVOLACCI also failed to pay federal taxes on the embezzled funds.

Today, Judge Underhill ordered TAVOLACCI to pay to her victim restitution in the amount of $816,129.  TAVOLACCI also must pay to the Internal Revenue Service back taxes in the amount of $141,679, plus penalties and interest.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov