Woman pleads guilty to stealing from RVC charity

A Westbury woman pleaded guilty on Aug. 19 to stealing the identity of a Suffolk County resident in order to cash thousands of dollars in stolen checks from a Jewish charity with offices in Rockville Centre.

Marie Augustin, 42, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the third degree (a D felony) and Identity Theft in the first degree (a D felony) before Nassau County Court Judge David Sullivan. Augustin is expected to receive two consecutive sentences of nine months in jail, a civil judgment of $180,577.48 to the Jewish National Fund, and $400 in reparations to the identity theft victim. She is due back in court for sentencing on Sept. 29.

“It is shameful that someone would steal thousands of dollars meant to help fulfill a non-profit’s charitable mission by stealing the identity of an innocent victim,” District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a statement.

In February, Augustin opened several business bank accounts in the names of the vendors of the Jewish National Fund so she could cash checks stolen from the charity, which has an administrative office and distribution warehouse in Rockville Centre, by using the stolen identity of a Suffolk County resident. Augustin used a fake driver’s license in the Suffolk County resident’s name to open the accounts.

The case was sent to the Nassau County Police Department Crimes Against Property Unit when the defendant attempted to make a withdrawal after depositing a check stolen from the Jewish National Fund in the amount of $71,239.24.

Augustin had also deposited two other stolen checks in the amount of $79,338.24 and $30,000 into other business accounts she had created.

However, the JNF did not suffer any losses. According to Adam Brill, the organization’s director of communications, the bank notified JNF of the transactions early and took the loss itself.

“At no time was our donor money taken,” Brill said. “It’s a terrible situation. Identity theft is horrible and anyone can be a victim. We’re very happy the DA’s office prosecuted her and commend their work.”