Woman steals $350,000 from New Jersey synagogue

A woman from Union County, New Jersey, has confessed to stealing over $350,000 from a synagogue where she worked. Stacy Margaritondo, a former bookkeeper and office manager, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court in Newark. Margaritondo began working at the synagogue in 2010. By July 2020, she was promoted to office manager and bookkeeper. It was during this time that she started her fraudulent scheme. From December 2019 until May 2023, she issued fake checks to herself, draining the synagogue's funds. To cover her tracks, Margaritondo used the synagogue’s financial information to secure about $300,000 in short-term loans from cash advance companies. Although the federal case does not mention the synagogue’s name, court records indicate that Congregation Beth Israel of Scotch Plains filed a lawsuit against her in 2023. Authorities say Margaritondo also falsified accounting records and changed bank statements that were presented to the synagogue’s board. She could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or double her gains from the crime when sentenced in July.