Illinois' Caren Irsuto Pleads Guilty to Steal of $600k from Practice. Husband Convicted Also.
Home > Hall of Shame
Do you have questions about embezzlement? Give Prosperident a call at 888-398-2327 .
Update December 2019:
Caren Irsuto Sentenced
Caren Irsuto, 56, of Schiller Park, was sentenced to six years in prison in exchange for her guilty plea to aggravated identity theft and theft. Her husband, Scott Irsuto, 59, also of Schiller Park, was sentenced to 24 months probation in exchange for pleading guilty to theft.
Original post:
A woman who worked as a receptionist and bookkeeper for an Arlington Heights dentist was charged with aggravated identity theft, financial fraud and theft for, authorities allege, stealing more than $600,000 from her employer over about six years beginning in 2009.
Charged along with Caren Irsuto, 56, was her husband Scott Irsuto, 58, who faces theft and financial fraud charges.
In setting Caren Irsuto's bond at $600,000, Cook County Judge Marc Martin seemingly referenced the money authorities say she stole. Martin ordered Scott Irsuto held on $28,000 cash bail, the loss authorities attributed to him. Each must post the entire amount to be released from custody.
Caren Irsuto's actions "had a devastating impact on the dental practice," said Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Karen Crothers, who described the dentist as a solo practitioner who noticed the theft in early 2016 after "an increase in business without a corresponding increase in revenue."
He brought in a consultant and relieved Caren Irsuto of her duties, Crothers said.
On a subsequent Sunday when the office was closed, the dentist and his wife drove by the office and saw Caren and Scott Irsuto in the parking lot, Crothers said. When the dentist called Irsuto to ask why, she denied being there, Crothers said. The dentist never saw her again.
Meanwhile, an internal review showed "inconsistencies between accounts received and insurance reports," Crothers said. The dentist eventually discovered Caren Irsuto failed to deposit 1,464 checks totaling $625,526.23, she said.
The checks, made out to the dental practice, came from 98 different insurers and dozens of patients, Crothers said. Each bore the endorsement of the dentist, who told authorities he did not sign any of the checks.
The defendants cashed the checks at currency exchanges, a gas station, and a local bar or deposited them in a bank account, Crothers said, adding "it is believed the money ws used for a variety of things."
Scott Irsuto next appears in court on March 27. Caren Irsuto appears in court on March 29.
Content retrieved from https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20190320/employee-charged-with-stealing-600000-from-arlington-heights-dentist