A North Branford woman has been sentenced to three years of probation after pleading guilty to embezzling nearly a half-million dollars from her former employer – a nursing home – and its residents.
U.S. District Court Judge Victor A. Bolden sentenced Melissa Meole, 36, to the three-year probation term, the first six months of which she must spend in home confinement, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Meole was arrested last September for stealing from Bridgeport Health Care Center Inc., which operated a nursing home known as Bridgeport Manor on Bond Street in the city.
Meole’s job responsibilities included processing payroll and financial transactions for Bridgeport Manor residents. She was accused of taking money from trust accounts holding residents’ personal funds, according to the government.
Meole stole more than $415,000 from residents from 2015 until October 2018 by writing checks to “cash” out of these trust accounts. She deposited the money into her personal bank account, federal prosecutors said, and also stole more than $29,000 from her employer by writing forged payroll checks.
As part of her plea deal, Meole agreed to pay restitution of $456,595. Additionally, she has to pay $103,217, plus interest and penalties, to the Internal Revenue Service.
Bridgeport Health Care Center Inc. filed for bankruptcy in April 2018.
