NANCY WEST, InDepthNH.org
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the state Attorney General’s Office often put out news releases that name the accused, but don’t name the person or business that was victimized even though that is public information, with few exceptions.
For example, news outlets in New Hampshire have historically not published the names of rape victims unless they choose to make their names public.
InDepthNH.org responded to Tuesday’s news release asking why the name of the business was being withheld, but got no response.
Young’s news release said Stephanie Pratt, 39, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12.
According to Young’s otherwise detailed release, Pratt was the office administrator for a company based in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. She had full access to the company’s finances, including its bank accounts and credit cards. Over the course of six-and-a-half years, Pratt stole $492,325.34 from the company.
According to the release, Pratt cashed unauthorized checks to herself and entered them as payments to legitimate vendors in the company’s accounting system. Pratt also used the company’s credit cards to make over 1,000 unauthorized personal purchases, including for items like plane tickets, a smart TV, a hot tub, Patriots tickets, and miscellaneous herbs and spices. She concealed the fraudulent credit card purchases by deleting them on credit card statements her employer received.
According to the release, the charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
