Courts and Law Downtown

Former nonprofit fiscal officer admits to $2.3M fraud from Brooklyn charity

January 23, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Brooklyn Federal Courthouse: The Site of Marcia Joseph's Guilty Plea in $2.3 Million Charity Fraud Case. Joseph, a former senior fiscal officer of a Brooklyn non-profit, faces up to 20 years in prison for embezzling funds intended to aid the disabled and economically disadvantaged.Photo: Rob Abruzzese/Brooklyn Eagle

Brooklyn Federal Courthouse: The Site of Marcia Joseph's Guilty Plea in $2.3 Million Charity Fraud Case. Joseph, a former senior fiscal officer of a Brooklyn non-profit, faces up to 20 years in prison for embezzling funds intended to aid the disabled and economically disadvantaged.
Photo: Rob Abruzzese/Brooklyn Eagle

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A former senior fiscal officer of a nonprofit organization in Brooklyn, 57-year-old Marcia Joseph, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges on Friday and admitted to embezzling of approximately $2.3 million from the charity.

Joseph, arrested in October 2023, appeared before U.S. District Court Justice Eric Vitaliano when she admitted to using the stolen funds for personal items including home remodeling, spa treatments, landscaping expenses and other luxury goods.

Joseph now faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment upon sentencing.

“With her guilty plea today, the defendant admitted that she failed in her duty to serve a non-profit organization by stealing millions of dollars for personal expenses that were meant to be spent in its mission helping vulnerable members of the community,” said Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney for the EDNY. “When she is sentenced, the defendant will learn the penalty for her dishonesty and greed.”

Peace, along with officials from the FBI and the NYC Department of Investigation, detailed Joseph’s scheme.

Over a 16-year period, Joseph set up a sham company, Prestige Business Services, purportedly offering specialized services on behalf of her employer. In reality, Prestige performed no work and served as a conduit for Joseph to funnel money from the nonprofit, which focuses on aiding those with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged.

The list of extravagant expenses includes approximately $235,000 in mortgage payments, $207,000 in credit card payments, $98,000 in car payments and $45,000 on Amazon, among other personal expenditures. Joseph also withdrew nearly $100,000 in cash, disbursed funds to friends and family, and issued checks to herself.

Assistant United States Attorney Eric Silverberg is handling the prosecution, with the case falling under the office’s Public Integrity Section.

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