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Former Law Firm Manager Gets 41 Months for Embezzling $1.3 Million
The Recorder
November 19, 2009
A former law firm manager was sentenced to three years and five months in prison Tuesday for embezzling approximately $1.3 million from Diepenbrock Harrison in Sacramento, Calif.
Eastern District of California Senior Judge Lawrence Karlton also ordered Regina Schenck, 46, to pay $1.3 million in restitution to her former employer and $246,000 to the Internal Revenue Service. Schenck, a resident of Herald, Calif., pleaded guilty in September to computer fraud and filing a false tax return in connection with the embezzlement.
Between 2002 and 2008, Schenck used law firm checks to pay off personal credit card expenses totaling more than $1 million. She also dipped into the firm's client trust account to buy five horses and a $40,000 horse trailer. Schenck told firm partners that the checks "were for the benefit of clients," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Schenck also changed records in the firm's computer system to boost her own salary, award herself bonuses and increase her insurance benefits.
"The success of such cases often depends on victims coming forward and reporting what happened," U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said in a prepared statement. "For that reason, the victim in this case is to be commended."
This article first appeared on the Legal Pad blog on CalLaw.com.
