CRIME WATCH

Merokean is indicted in $90,000 theft

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A Nassau County grand jury has indicted Heather DiCostanzo, 47, of Merrick, for allegedly stealing more than $90,000 from the waterproofing company where she worked as comptroller, according to Madeline Singas, the acting Nassau district attorney.

DiCostanzo was arrested in May 2013 by D.A. investigators. Following her indictment, DiCostanzo was arraigned on Jan. 20 and charged with second-degree grand larceny, a felony. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Singas said that between January 2005 and January 2012, DiCostanzo used her position as comptroller for a waterproofing company to embezzle $90,594 from her employer. DiCostanzo’s responsibilities included handling accounts payable and receivable and general control of monies flowing through the business.

Officials allege that DiCostanzo stole the money by making unauthorized purchases on a company American Express card that had been given to her for business expenses, such as buying materials, paying shipping charges, travel expenses and vendor services, according to Singas. DiCostanzo, however, also used the card to make numerous personal charges, including lodging, airline travel and household appliances, and to make purchases at department stores, restaurants and supermarkets, according to Singas.

The theft was discovered in January 2012 while DiCostanzo was on vacation and a fellow employee noticed that pages were missing from the company’s American Express bill. Her employer contacted American Express and allegedly found that DiCostanzo had made numerous purchases on the card that were not business-related, including the purchase less than a day earlier of food and drinks just before she boarded a cruise ship.

Her employer put an immediate stop on the card, and she was fired a few days later. DiCostanzo had worked for the company for 10 years and earned nearly $90,000 per year.

“In the end, there was no place this defendant could travel — by air, or by cruise ship — to escape the consequences of her deceitful actions,” Singas said. “Theft of funds, regardless of whether the victim is a member of the public or a private company, will be prosecuted by my office to the fullest extent of the law.”

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