‘I stole from the company because I love to shop’
September 2, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: Here comes the judge, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
There’s no good reason for an employee to steal from a company. But a federal judge has officially crossed one woman’s excuse off the list.
Mary Beth Klorczyk of North Huntingdon, PA, claimed a shopaholic disorder caused her to steal nearly $758,000 from WesDyne International where she used to work, according to Lawyers Weekly USA.
A federal judge didn’t buy the excuse, so now Klorczyk has been sentenced to 33 months in prison.
She was found guilty of using a company credit card to pay for vacation, home improvements, jewelry, a car and other items. She covered up the thefts by creating 1,700 bogus expense invoices.
The judge didn’t show much mercy even with the shopaholic defense. The judge said Klorczyk managed to keep her own credit cards in check, but not the company’s.
Tags: credit card, shopaholic, steal
September 5th, 2008 at 10:31 am
It’s amazing the length people will go to claim themselves as “victims” when they’re as guilty as sin. I’m surprised she didn’t try to make this “shopaholic” condition into a protected disorder under the ADA.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
HA!! I am with you Larry. Unbelievable. I have seen people make all kinds of excuses in order to not take responsibility for their behavoir but this one really takes the cake.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Odd comment, that last sentence. I wonder if the judge would have made a different decision if the employee had first maxed out her own credits cards. Yeah, it’s unbelievable this deflection of responsibility. She probably does have a form of OCD, so maybe her time in prison will lead her to reflect on the lengths she went to in order to ease her anxiety.
September 5th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Everyone wants to blame other for their issues. Personally, I blame the scapegoats for all of this. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have all these problems!
September 5th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
What I find most perplexing is:
1. She was sentenced to only 33 months
2. There’s no mention of financial restitution to her former employer for grand theft
December 8th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Another thought: the general “honesty,” or lack thereof, in society is really appalling. I heard about a recent survey in which at least 2/3 of students admitted cheating on tests or plagiarizing papers, and still 93% thought their morality was just fine. Stealing under any name is not OK.