A Manchester woman has admitted to embezzling almost $1 million during her employment at two different Connecticut businesses.
Maria Higgins, 36, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to interstate transportation of stolen money, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, and tax evasion, which carries a maximum term of five years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Court records show that Higgins was employed as a bookkeeper for New England Kitchen & Bath LLC in Glastonbury from mid-2018 to April 2022. During that time period, Higgins reportedly stole $504,807 from the business by issuing company checks payable to herself, “often including the words “commission” or “bonus” in the memo line of the check,” and used a signature handstamp of the company’s owner to issue the checks.
She also reportedly initiated wire transfers to bank accounts in her name, created a fictitious supplier and billing the company for fictious expenses, used company debit cards to pay for personal expenses and oversaw a construction proposal for a client project, expensing incurred costs of the project through the company and having the client pay her directly, according to court records.
From February 2023 to April 2024, Higgins was an accounting manager for PVC Solutions, Inc., in Danbury, a company that produces and distributes PVC products. Court records show that Higgins reportedly embezzled $356,181 by “issuing company checks payable to herself, creating duplicate vendor payment templates to initiate wire transfers to her personal bank account, creating fictitious suppliers to bill the company on her behalf and paying personal expenses through the company’s bank account.”
Higgins also allegedly “manipulated” the company’s accounting records to conceal her alleged crimes, according to court records.
Investigators also alleged that Higgins failed to report $768,650 of her “stolen” income to the IRS for her personal federal income tax returns for the 2018 through 2023 tax years, which resulted in a loss of $167,831.
Higgins has agreed to pay full restitution to New England Kitchen & Bath, PVC Solutions, Inc., and the IRS, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. She is currently released on a $50,000 bond pending her sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 2.
